I was very happy to see this- apparently Laurel is getting a make over too? Never been there- can anyone share what that might involve? What do you think they can do to bring Pimlico up to a higher standard, and still, perhaps, maintain it’s rustic charm?
Here is a complete overview
https://pastthewire.com/389m-bill-to-fund-pimlico-and-laurel-park-rebuilding-becomes-law/?fbclid=IwAR19OU7gtU6m8VlODv5lAMVFGF4jLUvHj6gApV4d1uJGykPtpP8IH97cF7c
I have mixed emotions about the whole thing. I guess it is better than losing Pimlico altogether but still breaks my heart to think of no horses stabled there ever again and losing the actual track itself. I also hate the mock up of the new grandstand at Pimlico, it looks like a Derby hat on top of an airport terminal. Laurel’s is better but don’t like the weird oval thing in the middle.
Thanks for this- very interesting stuff. I understand your sentimental feelings, but you’re right, it’s better than losing it altogether.
I just looked over the plans- any idea how long it will take them to make these changes? It’s little dicey to do right around May, so I am assuming that they are going to have to do this in phases?
If you look through that link carefully you can sort of get an idea of the timeline. They are going to do the whole Laurel grandstand and barn area before starting Pimlico so likely at least a year, probably closer to two or three until Pimlico sees any changes.
A nice piece from The Bloodhorse about Pimlico…
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/241174/whats-going-on-here-pimlico-my-pimlico
I thought that this was nice news- they are going to re-build Laurel AND Pimlico! Deferred maintenance, indeed!
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Well, they are going to fix things! Just not as quickly as had been hoped…
Laurel Park just canceled races for the time being.
This has been really surprising to me. I’m on the fringes, not super involved with MJC at the moment. But my impression was they have been sinking money into Laurel all along, knowing Pimlico was beyond repair. Then suddenly it’s “JK, Laurel’s a wreck because we haven’t been maintaining it!” Come again? Why did we spend all that money on it then?
They closed and spend months resurfacing it 2 or 3 years ago. My understanding ( and memory from my youth) is the track was built on a swamp - the parking lot use to flood regularly. And now climate change and even more paved over development all around it. It also seems horsemen do not have confidence in the team responsible for the track surface. It is a shame as md purses are robust right now.
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In my opinion it is not possible to fix Laurel once and for all anymore than it is to fix I-95 once and for all. Laurel is built on a swamp so the water table underneath the base is consistently inconsistent. Always has been, always will be. There are times of relative stability following a complete rebuild or during long dry spells but they won’t last for long. I personally trained at Pimlico as long as the stable area itself was open in large part for that fact even though it meant every horse I ran was a shipper.
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Move the race? Move the dates of the race? Close Pimlico? It all seems to be up in the air.
Key Players Surprised, Unmoved About Preakness Comments - BloodHorse
Well, this is interesting. If they are really going to rebuild and improve Pimlico, rather than tearing it down, that would be kind of cool. I hope that they are able to keep some of the features that make it so iconic.
Maryland Eyes State-Run, Non-Profit Racing Model - BloodHorse
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Possible training center sites:
“Working with the Authority, eight candidate sites for the offsite training center were identified for consideration. These sites including the following: - Rosecroft Raceway - Bowie Training Center - Timonium Race Track at the Maryland State Fairgrounds - Laurel Race Track - Naval Dairy Farm in Gambrills - Fair Hill Natural Resources Area and the Fair Hill Training Center - Mitchell Farm a greenfield site near the Aberdeen Proving Ground - Shamrock Farm a greenfield site near Sykesville, Maryland”
Have I mentioned I hate Stronach with every fiber in my being anymore?
I’m just glad Maryland is willing to take the reins on this clusterf*ck. But the bill Stronach left behind… oy vey. Plus I’m scared to death of “public ownership” because most of the public is anti-racing.
And I’m pissing mad about Laurel.
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Laurel needs to go. It’s literally built on swampland, there is no way it can be safe. I am dead set against any plan that alters the configuration of the track itself because to me that defeats the purpose of saving Pimlico in the first place but if that is the only way to save racing in Maryland I guess it is better than nothing.
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What do you think of some of these plans with barns in the middle of the track (or multi-level barns?) Hardly seems horse friendly, plus barns in the center likely need tunnels and we know how that causes problems for track surfaces.
I always loved Delaware (in the old days) as so many horses did so well there and were happy-as there were sand paths and an alternative training track and different ways to come and go from the track(s) and some green grass to hand graze. Here the focus on horse welfare does not seem to extend past the track surface.
(edited to correct-no condo barns.)
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