Pimlico racecourse to undergo huge redevelopment after hosting 150th Preakness next weekend

Pimlico racecourse will undergo a huge nine-figure redevelopment following next weekend's 150th Group 1 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the US Triple Crown, which will place the famed track at the very centre of racing in the state of Maryland.

The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) first applied for public funding for the demolition and rebuild of the entire track in 2018 – the project came with a price tag of $424 million – and after a prolonged negotiation approval has finally been granted by Maryland governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works. 

The ambitious plan also includes the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County, which will serve as the premier training hub of thoroughbred racing in Maryland. The number of racedays at Pimlico – situated in the Park Heights neighbourhood in Baltimore – will skyrocket from 15 to more than 100.

"Today we take another step towards a new, reimagined Pimlico," Moore said. "I thank my colleagues and our local community partners for securing the future of the Preakness in Maryland. Together we will continue to drive economic growth in Park Heights, throughout Baltimore, and across the entire state."

During the meeting, representatives from the MSA revealed the design concept for Pimlico, with the demolition and restoration process to begin following the 150th Preakness Stakes next Saturday.

Runners leave the gate at PimlicoCredit: Matt Wooley

MSA chairman Craig Thompson said: "This work is bigger than a racetrack, as historic and important as it is. This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investment to Park Heights and working to realise a shared vision for the future."

The MSA – in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club and the Park Heights community – will oversee the construction of the new Pimlico racecourse. The facility will support approximately 500 jobs and will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights. 

The acquisition of Shamrock Farm sets in motion one of the largest state investments in Carroll County in recent history, following a two-year investigation of more than eight sites across six Maryland counties. The state of Maryland will direct at least $110m to the new training centre, which will offer 328 pastoral acres to create a best-in-class training facility with more than 800 boarded horses, housing for backstretch workers and a training track with dimensions identical to those at Pimlico.

"Two years ago, we were tasked with creating and implementing a sustainable thoroughbred racing strategy for the state," said Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority chairman Greg Cross. "I'm proud to say that we have completed our work ahead of schedule. Pimlico is safely in state hands. We set up a non-profit operator to run the track, and at Shamrock Farm we have the ideal location for a world-class training centre."

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