Latest news with #MarylandStadiumAuthority
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Preakness 2025: Pimlico is being rebuilt. What's changing and where is the race next year?
The stage is set for the 150th running of the Preakness on Saturday, the final race at Pimlico Race Course before the track undergoes a massive overhaul that will include its demolition and complete rebuild. In June, workers at Pimlico will begin moving out, putting up fences and handling pre-demolition utility work among other steps to get ready for the tear-down. The overhaul was needed because of the track's age. Opened in 1870, the facility has numerous issues, including leaky ceilings, a single elevator that doesn't always work, and a section of the grandstand that had to be condemned in 2019 because it could no longer safely support patrons. The new clubhouse is planned, modeled after the Rawlings Conservatory botanical garden in Druid Hill and the original Pimlico clubhouse that burned down decades ago. It will have a colonnade and rooftop balconies that overlook the track, which Craig Thompson of the Maryland Stadium Authority said is 'a nod to the porches of the original clubhouse.' Barns on the east side of the track will be able to house about 400 horses. Pimlico currently hosts about 15 racing days per year. However, the reconstructed course would feature more than 100 live racing days yearly. In addition, racing and daily training will provide year-round economic activity, entertainment and jobs for the Park Heights community. The oval track at Pimlico will not be rotated or moved from its current alignment. Historians have supported keeping the current racing oval to maintain Pimlico's longstanding tradition. In addition to the new track at Pimlico, a new hotel and event space are planned. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has invested $10 million to support housing, job training, workforce development and other community initiatives in Park Heights. Preakness 2025: Want to make a bet? Here's what you need to know. Preakness 2025 Q&A: FanDuel TV's Gabby Gaudet on Pimlico and family Enter Metallica: Sandman has some hard-rocking fans going into Preakness READERS RESPOND: Here's what people say is their favorite part of Preakness 1/ST Racing president says Triple Crown 'in jeopardy' with current schedule Baltimore-based Henson Development Co. and The NHP Foundation plan a massive redevelopment in the 4600 and 4800 blocks of Park Heights Avenue, near the track. Construction will include an apartment building, 17 single-family detached homes to be sold, and new water, sewer and street infrastructure across 17 acres. The new race course is expected to generate $52.7 million in state economic activity, including $48.8 million in Baltimore City, according to the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority. The facility will also support about 500 jobs and be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. The Pimlico upgrade is expected to cost $400 million, paid by state bonds. The Board of Public Works — which includes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Treasurer Dereck Davis — approved $14.3 million for the demolition and start of construction. The board approved about $890,000 in pre-construction work in October. In addition, the state also approved nearly $4.5 million to purchase that training site, which will be known as 'Shamrock,' in Woodbine. The Preakness will move to Laurel Park in 2026, and if the rebuild remains on schedule, a new Pimlico will welcome the historic race back in May 2027. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@ or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
NBC Sports
10-05-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Maryland board OKs plan to start demolition to rebuild Pimlico Race Course shortly after Preakness
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland board approved a $14.3 million contract on Wednesday to begin the demolition and rebuilding of Baltimore's storied but antiquated Pimlico Race Course, home to the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. The vote by the three-member Board of Public Works, which includes Gov. Wes Moore, was made 10 days before the 150th Preakness Stakes, which is scheduled for May 17. It will be the last time the annual horse race will be held with the existing structures in place before the track is rebuilt on the same site. The demolition will begin shortly after this year's race. 'There cannot be a better time to announce the beginning of a transformation that will allow Pimlico to become a year-round hub for economic activity within the Park Heights community,' Moore said of the Baltimore neighborhood and longtime home of the race. Under the plan, the Preakness will take place in Laurel Park, located just southwest of Baltimore, in 2026 while the new facility is built, before returning to Pimlico in time for the 2027 race. Craig Thompson, the chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority which is overseeing the design of the new track, said the plan is to make Pimlico the home of Maryland thoroughbred racing. The track will go from hosting about 15 races a year to well over 100, Thompson said. 'This is more than just about a racetrack, as historic and important as it is,' Thompson said. 'This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investments to Park Heights.' Thompson also shared a preview of the design plans. They include a new clubhouse with architecture inspired by the Rawlings Conservatory in Baltimore's Druid Hill park and the original Pimlico Clubhouse, which included a colonnade and rooftop balconies, Thompson said. Last year, the board approved a deal to transfer ownership of Pimlico from The Stronach Group to the State of Maryland in order to ensure the Preakness remains in Baltimore. The state has been wrestling with what to do to restore the old racetrack for decades. Aptly nicknamed Old Hilltop, the track opened in 1870. It's where Man o' War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat and many others pranced to the winner's circle. But its age has long been a concern. In 2019, the Maryland Jockey Club closed off nearly 7,000 grandstand seats, citing the 'safety and security of all guests and employees.' The horse racing industry and other equine industries have been a cornerstone of Maryland agriculture, as well as an integral part of preserving green space.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maryland Governor Unveils Plans For New Pimlico Race Course, Training Center
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works have approved a demolition package for Pimlico Race Course and the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County to serve as the premier training center hub of Thoroughbred racing in Maryland. The actions mark a critical step forward in growing local and statewide economies, in addition to promoting the future of Thoroughbred racing in the state. 'Today we take another step toward a new, reimagined Pimlico,' said Gov. Moore. 'I thank my colleagues on the Board of Public Works, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, and our local community partners for securing the future of 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 Maryland Stadium Authority revealed the design concept for Pimlico Race Course, which will begin demolition and restoration following Preakness 150 on May 17. 'We are excited to deliver a new, modern Pimlico for racing fans and the Park Heights community,' said Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Craig Thompson. 'But 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 in partnership with MEDCO and the local community to realize a shared vision for the future.' The Maryland Stadium Authority — in partnership with The Maryland Jockey Club and the Park Heights community — will oversee the construction of the new Pimlico Race Course. The new facility will support approximately 500 jobs and will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights. Pimlico, which currently hosts about 15 racing days per year, will become the permanent home of Maryland Thoroughbred racing with well over 100 racing days annually. The site design unveiled today will also create a strong and consistent identity, with a new clubhouse inspired by grand Baltimore landmarks such as the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park and the original Pimlico Clubhouse. The approved 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 $110 million to the new training center, 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 nonprofit operator to run the track, and at Shamrock Farm we have the ideal location for a world-class training center.' The Shamrock Farm acquisition is supported by the Carroll County government, which has agreed to commit $1.5 million to offset infrastructure costs. 'Carroll County is thrilled Shamrock Farm has been selected as the site for Maryland's horse racing training facility,' said Carroll County Board of Commissioners President Kenneth A. Kiler. 'Shamrock's 328 acres combined with Carroll's rich equestrian tradition brings well-deserved notoriety to this beautiful farm and the area. We are honored to be playing such an integral role in this long-term endeavor. The county has committed 1.5 million dollars to the state project and is looking forward to seeing the plans come to fruition
Washington Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Maryland board OKs plan to start demolition to rebuild Pimlico Race Course shortly after Preakness
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland board approved a $14.3 million contract on Wednesday to begin the demolition and rebuilding of Baltimore's storied but antiquated Pimlico Race Course, home to the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. The vote by the three-member Board of Public Works, which includes Gov. Wes Moore, was made 10 days before the 150th Preakness Stakes, which is scheduled for May 17. It will be the last time the annual horse race will be held with the existing structures in place before the track is rebuilt on the same site. The demolition will begin shortly after this year's race. 'There cannot be a better time to announce the beginning of a transformation that will allow Pimlico to become a year-round hub for economic activity within the Park Heights community,' Moore said of the Baltimore neighborhood and longtime home of the race. Under the plan, the Preakness will take place in Laurel Park, located just southwest of Baltimore, in 2026 while the new facility is built, before returning to Pimlico in time for the 2027 race. Craig Thompson, the chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority which is overseeing the design of the new track, said the plan is to make Pimlico the home of Maryland thoroughbred racing. The track will go from hosting about 15 races a year to well over 100, Thompson said. 'This is more than just about a racetrack, as historic and important as it is,' Thompson said. 'This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investments to Park Heights.' Advertisement Thompson also shared a preview of the design plans. They include a new clubhouse with architecture inspired by the Rawlings Conservatory in Baltimore's Druid Hill park and the original Pimlico Clubhouse, which included a colonnade and rooftop balconies, Thompson said. Advertisement Last year, the board approved a deal to transfer ownership of Pimlico from The Stronach Group to the State of Maryland in order to ensure the Preakness remains in Baltimore. The state has been wrestling with what to do to restore the old racetrack for decades. Aptly nicknamed Old Hilltop, the track opened in 1870. It's where Man o' War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat and many others pranced to the winner's circle. But its age has long been a concern. In 2019, the Maryland Jockey Club closed off nearly 7,000 grandstand seats, citing the 'safety and security of all guests and employees.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Political notes: A sobering maternal health report, a project to celebrate, a time to step down
Acting Prince George's County Executive Tara Jackson, left, alongside U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) outside the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building on Wednesday. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) came back home to Prince George's County on Wednesday morning to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Civic Plaza near the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. The project, scheduled for completion in December, calls for an enclosed dog park, a playground and an area for community events. It's one of five planned near the county's four Metrorail Blue Line stations, and the first ever with the Maryland Stadium Authority, which will invest $400 million. Alsobrooks was part of the negotiations to secure the funding committed in the 2022 General Assembly session. 'I think the lesson for all of us in this is that Prince George's County is a sure economic driver, not only for Prince George's County, but that we are so important to the state and to the region. And so goes Prince George's County, the truth is, so goes the rest of the state,' Alsobrooks to dozens attending. Alsobrooks joined acting County Executive Tara H. Jackson, several state and county officials and the ceremony, including at least four councilmembers: Council Chair Edward Burroughs III, Council Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha, At-Large Councilmember Calvin Hawkins and Councilmember Wala Blegay, whose district includes the project site. After thanking those who pushed to revitalize communities on the Blue Line corridor from Largo to Capitol Heights, Blegay asked Burroughs and Oriadha to join her at the podium. Oriadha took the opportunity to say 'the baton' will be passed to new leadership after June's special election to select a new county executive between Prince George's State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) and GOP nominee Jonathan White. Acting Prince George's County executive vows 'to keep the trains running' The seat came open when Alsobrooks, the former executive, was elected to the Senate last fall and Jackson, the county's chief administrative officer, stepped in to fill the seat on an interim basis. Oriadha, Blegay and Burroughs supported Braveboy who ran against Hawkins and others in a crowded special primary last month. 'What I hope to see when we pass the baton … is that we can trust the vision to keep on going here in Prince George's County, and for us to see the growth that we deserve,' Oriadha said, before thanking 'every leader for handing the baton to the next one and allowing us to get here today to break ground on what I think will be an amazing start to developing the Blue Line corridor.' In the meantime, Alsobrooks called it 'a tough time' for Maryland with the Trump administration laying off thousands of federal workers who reside in the state and freezing already-approved funding for agencies, many of which are headquartered in the state. 'It has been extremely, very difficult time, but we're working,' she said in a brief interview after the ceremony. 'I'm going to be working with others to ensure that Maryland's assets are protected and that we continue to grow investment in every corner of our state.' Montgomery County had a fetal mortality rate of 5.4% between 2017 to 2021, but that number masks wide racial disparities on maternal health, according to a nearly 200-page report from the county's Office of Legislative Oversight titled 'Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes.' Fetal mortality among Blacks was nearly 8%, compared to 5.2% for Latinx, 4.3% for whites and 3.5% for Asians. Blacks accounted for the highest percentage of preterm births, at 10.1%, compared to 7.5% of whites, 8.4% of Asians and 9.8% of Latinx. At-Large Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D), who commissioned the report, will discuss it at a news conference at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Montgomery County Council Office Building. 'Montgomery County is one of the healthiest counties in the United States, yet we are still rife with inequities, particularly for our mothers and babies,' Sayles said in a statement. 'There is no acceptable reason for racial inequities in health care. Implementing equitable healthcare strategies is crucial to addressing maternal and infant health disparities so that every resident can lead fulfilling, safe, healthy, and happy lives.' The report comes ahead of Black Maternal Health Week that begins Friday and runs through April 17. It was established and is led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance that's comprised of organizations and individuals from across the country. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The report also highlights racial disparities in certain areas of the county. While District 5 area has the highest percentage of Blacks in the county, for example, it has the second-fewest maternal health care providers, with 41 out of the 387 total. In a maternal health care report released last year, Maryland showed slight improvement, and ranked among the top 10 states, but still only got a grade of C. Two bills that passed the legislature this year aim to improve the situation. Senate Bill 94 and House Bill 553, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) and Del. Deni Taveras (D-Prince George's), respectively, will provide home blood pressure monitors to those in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. Eligible recipients are those who are pregnant or postpartum, or have been diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease or cardiometabolic disease. The program is slated to begin Jan. 1, 'subject to the limitations of the state budget and as permitted by federal law…' Steven Kroll, who prosecuted cases in all of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions and was a frequent visitor to Annapolis during legislative sessions, will retire from his job as \state's attorney coordinator and executive director of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association on Sept. 1. 'It is time for me to join my wife spending time with our grandchildren and children,' he said in a statement Monday. 'I want to thank everyone for your support over these past fourteen years. I want to assure you that I will be here to help with a smooth transition. It has been my honor to serve the MSAA.' Kroll has been diplomatic, but not shy when he's testified before legislative committees on various legal topics. Last year, before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, he cited the Apple TV series 'The Bear' while testifying against legislation to create a statewide policy to collect data that would assess the policies and procedures of Maryland's 24 state's attorney's offices. 'For those who haven't seen that, I welcome you to see that,' he said. 'That will be a train wreck, a bus wreck and a plane wreck all together. So please remove the public defender to avoid any future confrontation.' Since he's still on the clock, Kroll summarized association wins in the 2025 lesreceived some legislative victories from this year's bills approved – Senate Bill 274 and House Bill 293 – alter a certain requirement for victims of child abuse to testimony in criminal procedures. One provision outlined if a child 'testifies by closed circuit television, the testimony shall be given within the courthouse in a setting that the court finds will reasonable mitigate the likelihood that the child victim will suffer emotional distress.' The lead sponsors are House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy (R-Frederick) and Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery).
