Editing Pimlico Race Course (section)

===Renovations===
[[File:Pimlico entrance MD1.jpg|thumb|right|The clubhouse entrance to Pimlico after the 2025 Preakness Stakes]]
In February 2017, the Maryland Stadium Authority released the first phase of a study saying that Pimlico needed $250 million in renovations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/preakness/bal-shifting-the-preakness-from-pimlico-to-laurel-park-might-not-be-the-long-shot-you-think-it-is-20170515-story.html|title=Preakness 2017: Shifting the Preakness from Pimlico to Laurel Park might not be such a long shot|last=Walker|first=Childs|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=May 17, 2017|access-date=June 1, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2018 it was reported that Pimlico renovation studies were continuing.<ref name=B1>{{Citation |last=Walker |first=Childs |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Pimlico Race Course study set to continue, pending commission and stadium authority votes |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-sp-preakness-pimlico-study-0125-story.html |access-date=October 14, 2018 }}</ref> A report issued on December 14, 2018 suggested the existing buildings be demolished and rebuilt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/local/2018/12/report-track-that-hosts-preakness-should-be-demolished/|title=Report: Track that hosts Preakness should be demolished|date=2018-12-14|website=WTOP|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> In a meeting held in June 2018 by the Maryland Stadium Authority, locals "overwhelmingly supported upgrading the track property."<ref name=C1>{{Citation |last=Bechnar |first=Adam |date=June 13, 2018 |title=Baltimore denizens back Pimlico overhaul, keeping Preakness |publisher=[[Daily Record (Maryland)|Daily Record]] |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2018/06/13/baltimore-pimlico-overhaul-preakness/ |access-date=October 14, 2018 }}</ref> The Preakness Stakes took place at Pimlico in May 2019, with media reports suggesting that future Preakness races could be moved to [[Laurel Park (race track)|Laurel Park]].<ref name=D1>{{Citation |last=Barker |first=Jeff |date=May 11, 2018 |title=Preakness will return to Baltimore's Pimlico in 2019. After that, the race's home is uncertain |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/preakness/bs-md-preakness-future-site-20180510-story.html |access-date=October 14, 2018 }}</ref>

In October 2019, The Stronach Group reached an [[agreement in principle]] with the city of Baltimore and groups representing Maryland horsemen that would permanently keep the Preakness at Pimlico. As part of the agreement, The Stronach Group would donate both Pimlico and Laurel Park to newly established government entities that would oversee the properties, with Stronach licensed to conduct the race meets. Pimlico's grandstand would be demolished and replaced with a smaller structure, and temporary seating would be added to handle the attendance during Preakness week. The race track itself would be rotated 30 degrees in order to create nine parcels of land that could be sold for private development, and new barns for horses would be constructed.<ref name=SUN051019>{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-preakness-pimlico-20191005-6bn5tr3dinfezjmwltujaszgze-story.html|title='Historic' deal aims to keep Preakness in Baltimore; track owner, city reach agreement after 4 months of talks|last1=Barker|first1=Jeff|last2=Wood|first2=Pamela|date=5 October 2019|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|access-date=6 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=DRF051019>{{cite web |url=https://www.drf.com/news/coalition-lays-out-plan-major-redevelopment-pimlico-laurel?type=|title=Coalition lays out plan for major redevelopment of Pimlico, Laurel|last=Hegarty|first=Matt|date=5 October 2019|website=drf.com|publisher=Daily Racing Form|access-date=6 October 2019}}</ref>

The Racing and Community Development Act, approved by the [[Maryland General Assembly]] in May 2020, allowed the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue $375 million in bonds for the renovation of both Stronach Group tracks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.nbcsports.com/2020/05/09/pimlico-to-be-renovated-keep-preakness-after-bill-passes/|title=Pimlico to be renovated, keep Preakness after bill passes|work=[[NBC]]|date=9 May 2020|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>

On March 14, 2024, the Stronach Group announced that it had reached a deal with the Maryland state government to transfer ownership of Pimlico to the new Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), allowing for a multi-million dollar renovation project of the race course's track to begin and for the construction of a new training center at a separate location. The deal would also consolidate thoroughbred racing in Maryland to Pimlico and have the Maryland state government assume responsibility over racing operations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Owner of Pimlico Race Course agrees to donate historic track to state |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/pimlico-plus-legislation-maryland-IF7S2HMFFJDEVAYXV6EIZXBAHA/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=[[The Baltimore Banner]] |date=March 14, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The General Assembly passed a bill ratifying the deal in April 2024, which provided for $400 million in state bonds to be used for renovations to Pimlico.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Pimlico redevelopment plan primed for summer start with governor's signature |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/moore-pimlico-redevelopment-bill-5UEZO453UBANXLTL7F6MRUF7QU/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=[[The Baltimore Banner]] |date=May 9, 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/pimlico-horse-racing-track-preakness-0de1c9ca2f7e7e266fb45fc8bee1ed2d|title=Maryland lawmakers OK plan to rebuild Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness|last=Witte|first=Brian|date=8 April 2024|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Pimlico Race Track after last race - 5-17-25.jpg|thumb|Pimlico Race Track at dusk after the UAE President Cup, held after the Preakness Stakes and, thus, the last race ever before demolition and rebuilding of Pimlico, May 17, 2025.]]
The MTROA assumed ownership of the Pimlico property on July 1, 2024. On the same date, the Maryland Jockey Club announced that the entire Pimlico property would close on September 1, 2024 to begin the reconstruction project, with [[Laurel Park (race track)|Laurel Park]] hosting day-to-day thoroughbred racing and training in Maryland until renovations are completed.<ref name=bh010724>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/277955/pimlico-activity-to-cease-sept-1-before-rebuild-starts|title=Pimlico Activity to Cease Sept. 1 Before Rebuild Starts|date=1 July 2024|publisher=The Blood-Horse|access-date=2 July 2024}}</ref> Pimlico temporarily reopened in May 2025 to host the 150th Preakness Stakes,<ref name=bh010724/> while the Preakness in 2026 would be held at Laurel.<ref name=bh190324>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275688/maryland-plan-seeks-to-take-full-advantage-of-preakness|title=Maryland Plan Seeks to Take Full Advantage of Preakness|last=Angst|first=Frank|date=19 March 2024|publisher=The Blood-Horse|access-date=2 July 2024}}</ref> The new Maryland Jockey Club, as a non-profit entity of the MTROA, assumed control of thoroughbred racing in the state on January 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |first=Childs|last=Walker|date=30 December 2024|title=Maryland thoroughbred horse racing prepares to step into its future in 2025|url=https://www.timeswv.com/sports/maryland-thoroughbred-horse-racing-prepares-to-step-into-its-future-in-2025/article_090403e4-c630-11ef-9528-3fb36a67cc6d.html|website=timeswv.com|publisher=Baltimore Sun|access-date=2 January 2025|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On May 7, 2025, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved the Pimlico reconstruction proposals from the Maryland Stadium Authority. Plans call for the new facility to include a hotel and event space. The existing grandstand will be demolished sometime after the [[2025 Preakness Stakes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/pimlico-race-course-maryland-preakness-park-heights-board-of-public-works-vote/|title=Design for Maryland's new Pimlico Race Course unveiled as demolition is approved for after 150th Preakness Stakes|last1=Thompson|first1=Adam|last2=Moodee Lockman|first2=JT|date=7 May 2025|website=cbsnews.com|publisher=WJZ-TV|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>