Baltimore officials blast Pimlico owners as ‘Kardashians,’ imply fault in horse deaths

Economic development officials weren’t mincing words when discussing the owner of Pimlico Race Course during a Baltimore Development Corp. board meeting on Thursday.

Corporation President William H. Cole IV and board member Jim Smith, a key adviser to Mayor Catherine Pugh, acknowledged they expect the Maryland General Assembly to approve a bill hurting the city’s chances of overhauling Pimlico and retaining the Preakness Stakes.

Both men shared less than flattering views of The Stronach Group and its controlling family, which want to move the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown from its traditional home in Baltimore to the Washington suburbs.

During the meeting Cole mentioned The Stronach Group dealing with the deaths of 21 horses in a two-month period at its Santa Anita track in Los Angeles. Questions remain about whether the deaths, which Cole called “horrific,” stemmed from track conditions, treatment of the animals or general danger of the sport.

Smith, however, implied Stronach had some responsibility, sarcastically observing: “They’re a class operation.”

Cole also wasn’t in the mood to pull punches. Repeating comments that he said previously aggravated lawmakers in Annapolis, he compared the Stronach family, because of a legal fight between father Frank Stronach and daughter Belinda Stronach, to the Kardashian family of reality television renown.

The venom toward Stronach has built over time and comes as the state legislature is expected to approve a bill sanctioning bond funding to pay for improvements to the firm’s facilities in Laurel and Bowie.

Stronach over the years has invested the vast majority of state subsidies for track improvements in Laurel Park while its historic track at Pimlico has declined, provoking the ire of Baltimore elected officials, economic development professionals and some business leaders.

At the same time, in what’s become nearly as much a tradition each spring as the race itself, Stronach officials grouse about the conditions at Pimlico and the neighborhoods surrounding the track.

The bill serving as the primary source of agitation to the city allows the Maryland Economic Development Corp. to issue $120 million in bonds to pay for the upgrades in Laurel and Bowie. The specific bonding leaves out a plan, developed by the city and Maryland Stadium Authority, to transform Pimlico into a mixed-use development with year-round activity.

Smith, a former Baltimore County executive, compared what’s being proposed to Stronach using the state’s credit card to finance upgrades to its property and not covering the interest. When Maryland helped finance M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, he said, at least the Maryland Stadium Authority retained ownership.

“It’s a handout of $120 million to a private enterprise. That’s all it is,” he said.

Smith cautioned board members not to buy into Stronach floating the potential to redevelop Pimlico if the race moves, and the track closes.

“They will fence it in with a crumbling building until (Department of Housing and Community Development Director) Mike Braverman’s office says, ‘You have to tear it down because it’s a danger to the public,”‘ Smith said.

Despite the fact Stronach is “going to get their bill,” Smith told board members not to “get too gloomy” because the fight will continue. He cast doubt on whether Maryland Economic Development Corp. could float the bonds to fund the project and if Stronach had the “financial bandwidth” to complete what it’s currently proposing.

Cole and Smith also indicated there’s potential for a legal battle ahead as the drama surrounding the future of Pimlico and the Preakness Stakes unfolds.

“Like Jim said, there’s always court,” Cole said.