Study calls for Pimlico rebuild
 

Conversation about the Preakness Stakes' future is set to ramp up again following a Baltimore Sun report published Wednesday, revealing that the Maryland Stadium Authority's study of Pimlico Race Course calls for a full demolition and rebuild for the home of the Triple Crown's middle jewel.

Officials with The Stronach Group, which operates Pimlico in Baltimore, have for years discussed the possibility of moving the Preakness to nearby Laurel Park, another Maryland facility closer to Washington, D.C., that has already undergone renovations.

But leaving behind Pimlico would also pull from the Baltimore community a major event which despite rain and fog in 2018 attracted its third-largest announced crowd of 134,487 and third-highest handle in 143 runnings.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the Maryland Stadium Authority study is yet to be released but was obtained early by the newspaper. It calls for a $424 million rebuild that would include several amenities on the property for use outside of Pimlico's short meet.

The study reportedly cost $600,000 itself and was considered a critical phase as local officials seek to keep the race at Pimlico, which will at a minimum host the 2019 Preakness on May 18. The aging facility will only host 12 race dates in all next year, while Laurel Park, with its $30 million in upgrades gets 159.

https://www.horseracingnation.com/ne...o_rebuild_123#

Well, here's one man's opinion; whether they rebuild Pimlico racetrack or not, demolishing every structure on the grounds is one of the best ideas since FDR's "New Deal".

I get a weird feeling if it gets all bulldozed, then it will remain that way.

The most shocking thing about that is not that Pimlico is a dump that should be bulldozed (or rebuilt at ridiculous expense) but that Maryland has enough horses for Laurel to run 159 days!

Slightly disagree with this, the most shocking thing is that is cost that much to figure that it is a dump and needs rebuilt.

https://apnews.com/c852e9751cd744b7a27fa9333c14d1a0


Baltimore trying to stem decades-long disappearing act

this made me laugh:

Seema Iyer, associate director of the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute, believes real momentum is building.

“The mayor’s put together a really strong team. All the pieces are there. Whether they can connect the dots remains to be seen,” said Iyer, whose research suggests that commute times of more than 45 minutes to get to work are the strongest factor in population loss.

Commute times:D

People rioting for a many time convicted drug dealer and burning down businesses had nothing to do with it? Telling police to stand down while private property was being destroyed didn't have a factor? Rampant drug use had nothing to do with it? Its too bad they didn't ask the people in the article who they voted for-that would have been more telling

They could start the Bulldozers in Richmond Va and stop just short of Portland Me and I could give a shit

If the 400+ million dollar estimate is correct- and I have no reason to doubt it, Pimlico is going down.

Can Laurel hold the crowd of the Preakness? Just move it to Monmouth already....

I think it should stay in Maryland.

The Preakness has not always been run at Pimlico, in fact, it was run in New York in 1890 and again from 1894 through 1908.

400 million is a big number of dollars for a track (Pimlico) that only ran 12 days in 2018.

They need to tax everyone near it and pay for it like they build new sports stadiums.

How much $$$ is Franky kicking in?

$0-he knows better