Laurel Park gets its moment in the spotlight for a one-time, scaled-down Preakness

Q: Why is the Preakness Stakes being held at Laurel Park instead of Pimlico?

The Preakness Stakes is being held at Laurel Park because Pimlico is undergoing a $400 million renovation.

Q: What is the crowd limit for the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park?

The crowd for the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park is limited to 4,800 attendees.

Q: When will the Preakness Stakes return to Pimlico?

The Preakness Stakes is expected to return to Pimlico in 2027, even if the renovation is not fully completed.

Q: What changes can attendees expect at this year's Preakness Stakes?

Attendees can expect a more intimate atmosphere with no live music and the opportunity to see horses up close, unlike the typical large-scale event at Pimlico.

Laurel Park will host a scaled-down version of the Preakness Stakes Saturday while Pimlico, the traditional home of the second leg of Triple Crown, is being rebuilt. (Photo by John Rydell/Maryland Matters)

](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1Hm\_ox7SHyDpyL0IZNbEkg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcwNztjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/maryland\_matters\_articles\_501/0913f63001d200df2d1b8f3c1b1a8cd1) Laurel Park will host a scaled-down version of the Preakness Stakes Saturday while Pimlico, the traditional home of the second leg of Triple Crown, is being rebuilt. (Photo by John Rydell/Maryland Matters) Ron Sargent is thrilled that his hometown of Laurel will finally get the chance to host the Preakness Stakes this weekend, the second jewel in thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. As a kid, Sargent used to walk his own horses to Laurel Park for exercise. For the past 50 years, he’s owned Outback Leather, not far from the track on Main Street, where he makes custom saddles for racehorses and is often called on to make last-minute repairs for jockeys. So hosting the Preakness at Laurel Park, while Pimlico undergoes a $400 million renovation, is kind of a big deal. But Sargent is also a realist. He knows that Saturday’s 151st Preakness at Laurel Park will look nothing like the wild spectacle at Pimlico, with crowds often exceeding 120,000. Thousands jammed the infield, creating an often raucous atmosphere with live bands performing all day long. The Laurel Park crowd will be limited to 4,800. No live music, and no fans or corporate tents will be allowed in the infield, most of which sits in a floodplain and is considered protected wetlands. “It’s going to be a more intimate atmosphere,” said Dan Illman, director of communications for the Maryland Jockey Club. “People are going to be able to get up close and personal with the horses. You can go down to the paddock and see the horses before the Preakness, and to see the athletes in action, that’s what’s going to be different here.”

Compared to Pimlico’s urban setting in Northwest Baltimore, Laurel has an almost small-town charm, with a thriving Main Street that is home to gift shops, boutiques, restaurants and taverns. “I love Laurel, and it sets up really well for the size of event that they have to have this year,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. “We don’t have the Derby winner [Golden Tempo], but we have bigger fields, which is what a lot of bettors like. “Yes, it’s unusual and yes, it’s something new, but we are all looking forward to a brand-new facility at Pimlico next year, and if that takes this year and into next year to get that, I think we’re all looking forward to it,” said Goodall. She continues to run the annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park in October, which features Maryland-bred horses. State racing officials are determined to bring the Preakness back to Pimlico in 2027, even if the massive reconstruction project is still not fully completed. Meanwhile, live racing at Laurel Park is expected to continue into 2027 and could resume after next year’s Preakness, if the renovated Pimlico complex is still under construction. Eventually, though, racing will end at Laurel Park and it will be converted to a training facility run by the state, leaving Pimlico as the only track in the state for thoroughbred racing. “At one time, the plan was to close down Pimlico and move the Preakness to Laurel, but politically, that was not an option,” said Katherine M. Voss, a veteran trainer and president of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “Obviously everyone feels very strongly that the Preakness belongs in Baltimore.” Laurel Park will also host the annual Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday, which features races for 3-year-old fillies. It’s often known as “ladies day out,” with women sporting fancy hats and bright-colored dresses. Despite the massive refurbishment of Pimlico, Maryland’s racing industry still faces major financial challenges in consolidating the two tracks to reduce long-term debt.