State officials moving forward with plans to modernize Pimlico
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The entrance to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. State officials Tuesday said they will move forward with a plan to demolish and rebuild the historic Baltimore track and construct a state-of-the-art training facility on a 328-acre Carroll County farm. (File photo by Jay Cannon/Capital News Service.)
State officials said they will move forward with plans to raze a storied but deteriorating Baltimore horse track following the running of the Preakness Stakes later this month.
The Board of Public Works Wednesday is scheduled to vote on two requests related to the state's thoroughbred racing plans. Included in the requests are plans to purchase a Carroll County parcel for a new training facility and another that will raze Pimlico Race Course as part of a modernization effort.
'So, after decades of trying to figure out what to do with Pimlico, tomorrow it will become a reality,' said Greg Cross, chair of the soon-to-be-disbanded Maryland Thoroughbred Race Track Operating Authority.
The authority Wednesday will seek approval from the Board of Public Works, chaired by Gov. Wes Moore (D), to purchase Shamrock Farm.
The 328-acre Carroll County farm will become a new training facility to support expanded racing at Pimlico.
The nearly $4.5 million purchase price is the highest of three appraisals conducted for the racing authority. The General Assembly in 2024 set aside $110 million for construction of a new, state-of-the art training facility as part of a thoroughbred racing centralization plan.
Cross said the new facility will house 800 horses.
Initially, the property will be owned by the authority. But the panel was dissolved by the legislature as part of its budget negotiations. In its place, lawmakers divided the authority's responsibilities between the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Economic Development Corp.
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The stadium authority will assume ownership of the training facility property on July 1. It will also manage construction of the training facility. MEDCO will oversee community development at the racetrack.
'What a tremendous opportunity we have not only to continue the proud tradition of Maryland horse racing, but to take it forward and become even more so a leader in the area of not just racing and breeding, but equine health,' said Tom Sadowski, executive director of MEDCO.
Sadowski said his quasi-governmental group will work with the stadium authority and be 'engaged intimately with the community to make sure, once we have this training center up, once we have Pimlico renovated, that we complete the job and that we look at those opportunities for development, whether it's a new parking facility or a hotel or other supportive development, that we make sure that those things are realized for the benefit of the community.'
In a separate request, the board will be asked to approve a $15.2 million contract with Baltimore-based Clark Construction Group for the demolition and redevelopment of Pimlico Race Course.
Craig Thompson, chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority, said the plan 'is more than just about a race track and racing, as historic and important as it is, it's really about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investments to the Park Heights community.'
By focusing horse racing on Pimlico, officials said they hope to increase the total number of racing days in Baltimore from 15 days to 100 days. The effort is also expected to support 500 jobs.
Thompson said the new Baltimore facility 'will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights in the Park Heights area, and it's going to feature not just the world-class racetrack, but also a hotel event space and other amenities.'
Demolition of Pimlico Race Course could begin later this year. The State Archives is assisting the authority with identifying and preserving part of the facility.
This year's Preakness will be held May 17 at Pimlico. The 2026 Preakness will be held at Laurel Park before returning to Baltimore, and a new Pimlico facility, in 2027.
Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) told reporters in a separate meeting he looked forward to the race later this month.
'I think it will be an excellent event, and then we move forward with the next chapter in Maryland racing,' Ferguson said when asked about the abolishment of the racetrack authority. 'And I think we have some very big choices and decisions ahead, and I have every confidence in MEDCO and MSA to help us navigate through that.'
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