Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Maryland General Assembly adjourned at midnight Monday after taking actions that effectively secured the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
House Bill 990 was advanced by the Senate on Friday, but faced heavy opposition by Baltimore’s delegates who voted 16-0. This bill would have allowed state bonds to be used to pay for upgrades at horse-racing facilities in Laurel and Bowie. Although the Stronach Group, which owns the facilities, would have been required to make progress on redeveloping Pimlico, opponents predicted the bill would end up leaving Pimlico behind.
House Bill 1190 was a bill to help the Preakness in Pimlico, supporters said.
Before taking a leave of absence, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh supported keeping the Preakness in Pimlico and supported HB1190.
“Right now [bill 1190], is Legislative priority and I would like to reserve comment at this time,” a representative at the Mayor’s Office told The Baltimore Watchdog.
Baltimore’s acting mayor, Bernard C. “Jack” Young, wasted no time to pick up the Pimlico cause.
“I am writing you today to ask for your leadership in preventing our city from suffering insult on top of grave injury,” Young said in a letter to General Assembly leaders.
The acting mayor explained how he was determined not to lose the Preakness on his watch. In his letter, he also addressed how the city couldn’t afford to lose the Preakness and the $50 million that it brings in.
On her website, Pugh said, “I am increasingly concerned with the prospect of the Preakness leaving Baltimore City. I am anxiously awaiting a study by the Maryland Stadium Authority assessing the current infrastructure needs of the Pimlico race track.”
Saturday, May 18 marks the 144th Preakness race at Pimlico. The Preakness is the second race in the Triple Crown. This race is the one where the horse and jockey who won the first race continues its journey to win the Triple Crown.
Fans eagerly watched debate in Annapolis.
“I would be upset,” said Rudy Carrico, 20, a southern Maryland resident who attended the Preakness last year. “I enjoyed the Preakness so much that I don’t want it to leave Baltimore.”
Carrico said he is trying to get a group of his friends together so that he can attend the race again this year.
“I went to the Preakness to experience the greatest horse race and infield fest on the East Coast,” Carrico said. “I wanted to see Post Malone and 21 Savage perform there as well.
“There is a huge significance of winning the Preakness and it’s big for the owners jockeys and fans,” Carrico added.
Fans brag about the Preakness and the experiences it provides. Besides being full of history, they also point to variety of entertainment there.
“I want to go and am planning to go to Preakness this year,” said Joseph Sherman, 22, a Maryland resident whose friends have recently gone to the Preakness. “I want to go because of the memories and stories I hear from my friends.”
Sherman said that every person he has talk to has had a blast at the Preakness and the events that are held at Pimlico. They all want to go back and experience it again because of the whole experience. The horse racing is just the start “they also have great live performances there,” Sherman said.
“I think It would be a horrible idea; Baltimore is where the Preakness belongs. The Preakness has always been in Baltimore,” Sherman said.
Sherman said other horse racing tracks in the area could not compare to Pimlico. While he said people probably still would attend the Preakness, he stressed the experience would not have the same feel if it was somewhere else.
The Preakness is scheduled to run at Pimlico through 2020.