Pugh pushes campaign to keep Preakness even as track owner digs in

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ANNAPOLIS — The owner of Pimlico Race Course is telling lawmakers it is willing to consider keeping the historic Preakness Stakes in Baltimore but not without significant investment from the state and city.

The Stronach Group is making it clear it doesn’t intend to invest any of its own money in revitalizing the aging Baltimore track.

Supporters of keeping the racetrack and the Preakness in Baltimore, including Mayor Catherine Pugh, are hoping a reimagined Pimlico will save the second jewel of horse racing’s triple crown and pump new life into the surrounding northwest Baltimore neighborhoods. But some supporters see their backs against the wall and believe the Preakness is heading to Laurel Park within the next four years.

“Our intent is to get everyone back to the table to discuss how to move forward,” Pugh said Friday in Annapolis as she appeared before lawmakers to make her case. She said the city would like to find a way to make a revitalized race track “a year-round facility” rather than one that is open for the Preakness and 10 days of racing.

“This is a gem for our city,” Pugh said of the Preakness. “It is an economic generator. It is part of our history.”

House Bill 1190 would establish a working group that would assess the financial viability of implementing recommendations to renovate the racetrack near Sinai Hospital and report back to the General Assembly by the end of the year.

“It’s about creating the work group follows the (Maryland Stadium Authority) study that says the Preakness is viable in Baltimore,” said Pugh.

The $424 million vision, laid out by the authority in broad strokes, includes a realignment of the track, community access to the infield area as well as facilities that could be used year-round for events, concerts and dining.

If built, Pugh said, the development could avoid a black eye on Baltimore from losing the iconic race, and it could transform a neighborhood by bringing in $700 million in private redevelopment.

Pugh has the support of leaders of other local jurisdictions, including Harford, Howard and Baltimore counties. The mayor is hoping to stave off a move of the race to Laurel Park, also owned by Stronach.

“I’d urge you to continue the work to save the Preakness,” Harford County Executive Barry Glassman told members of the House Ways and Means Committee Friday. “Don’t worry about the odds. You can win.”

And while saving Pimlico and the history of the race has its supporters, lawmakers who represent the the Laurel racetrack and surrounding areas are also fiercely protective of the facility where far more racing is held than in Baltimore. A revitalized Pimlico could be seen as a threat to the viability of Laurel.

“We don’t want to see Laurel close,” said Del. Jay Walker, D-Prince George’s and vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which will have to sign off on a task force for Pimlico.

The committee is considering both the bill favored by Pugh and another favored by the Stronach Group, the Canadian company that owns Pimlico, the Preakness brand and Laurel Park. Stronach is eying a plan to create a super track complex in Laurel.

Tim Ritvo, a board member with The Stronach Group, said the company is willing to meet with the city but that the consolidation of tracks is something occurring nationally and is in the best interests of the horse industry in the state.

“It’s an economic business decision,” said Ritvo, adding later that plan to have one horse racing track and two training facilities is “what we feel we need to be successful.”

House Bill 990, backed by Stronach, would add the Bowie Race Course Training Center to a list of tracks eligible for a state cut of slots money set aside for horse racing. The money would go to the Maryland Economic Development Corporation and be used for bonds that would finance improvements at Bowie and Laurel.

Ritvo said the company would be willing to consider keeping the race in Baltimore if the city or state paid for the necessary upgrades.

“It has to be done without funding from us,” said Ritvo. “We don’t believe it’s financially viable.”

Pimlico, Ritvo said, is an aging facility with 10 race days. Instead, the company is eyeing a mixed-use commercial redevelopment of the 110-acre Baltimore facility rather than maintaining horse racing.

“It’s great to say you’re willing to meet with the city, but you’re not going to put a dime into Pimlico,” said Del. Nick Mosby, D-Baltimore. “I have concerns about that.”