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[devilsbag]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Have I missed something and is the case being brought in such a way so it's all (the track and the race) or nothing?

Otherwise, it seems there is some chance Baltimore could win half of the case and own Pimlico, but lose regarding intellectual property (the Preakness itself). For Stronach, wouldn't that outcome and "fair market value" from the city arguably be a win?

Stronach then unloads Pimlico and can concentrate on Laurel once and for all. Even if the city low balls the offer, on the open market, how much is Pimlico worth?

In the very unlikely scenario that Baltimore did become owner of the Preakness, my gut feeling is that racing fans (especially those who have visited Pimlico) would accept a Preakness substitute at Laurel. A drawn out court case may even generate more sympathy than if they simply planned the move.

If state law were enforced and Maryland really wanted to spite themselves, I think moving the race to Gulfstream is not a far fetched idea. Monmouth would be a popular choice, but I don't know why Stronach wouldn't keep it at one of their facilities. Also, NJ is so close to NY that you would be attracting a lot of the same attendees.

Neither facility is designed to handle 150,000 people, but I think that Stronach might figure out some sort of option for Gulfstream in the near future to accommodate that one day if the Preakness was going to be permanent fixture. Simultaneously, some kind of expansion may get them back in the running for a Breeders' Cup in the event that things don't go well at Santa Anita.