# Laurel Park hosts historic Preakness Stakes amid Pimlico renovation **Published:** 2026-05-16T11:59:12.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/16/repub/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/laurel-park-hosts-historic-preakness-stakes-amid-pimlico-renovation The 151st running of the Preakness Stakes moved to a smaller, more intimate venue Saturday as [Laurel Park hosted the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown for the first time since 1908](https://www.newstribune.com/news/2026/may/16/preakness-2026-at-laurel-park-will-be-tremendously-different-than-pimlico/). The temporary relocation came while Pimlico Race Course, the race's traditional home in Baltimore, undergoes a [$400 million renovation project](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/demolition-baltimore-pimlico-race-preakness-maryland-horse-park-heights/). The shift reflected a dramatically scaled-down affair compared to Pimlico's typical spectacle. [Attendance was capped at 4,800, down from crowds often exceeding 120,000 at Pimlico](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/05/16/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/). The infield, partially a wetland area, hosted no live music or fan tents, creating what officials described as a more intimate racing experience. For longtime Laurel residents like Ron Sargent, owner of Outback Leather saddle shop on Main Street for 50 years, the Preakness homecoming carried deep significance. ["People are going to be able to get up close and personal with the horses," said Dan Illman, director of communications for the Maryland Jockey Club](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/05/16/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/). The temporary move underscored Maryland's complex efforts to revitalize its thoroughbred racing industry. [Pimlico temporarily reopened in May 2025 to host the 150th Preakness before closing for the massive reconstruction project](https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/05/15/laurel-park-horse-dies-preakness-weekend/). [State racing officials are determined to bring the Preakness back to Pimlico in 2027, even if the massive reconstruction project is still not fully completed](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/05/16/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/). The race featured a [$2 million purse with 14 horses competing](https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/2026-preakness-stakes-predictions-odds-field-location-post-time-top-picks-from-proven-horse-racing-expert/). [Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo was not competing in this year's Preakness](https://thespun.com/trending/horse-dies-at-laurel-park-roughly-24-hours-before-2026-preakness-stakes/), removing a potential marquee draw. The future of Maryland racing remains uncertain amid significant financial and structural challenges. [Churchill Downs Inc. announced in April it reached an agreement to acquire the intellectual property rights of the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes from 1/ST Racing for $85 million](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/04/21/churchill-downs-buys-rights-to-preakness-black-eyed-susan-stakes/), subject to Maryland's right to match the offer. [Governor Wes Moore has announced plans to purchase Laurel Park and convert it into a year-round training facility, though a state legislative committee imposed a 45-day delay on approving the sale](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/04/21/churchill-downs-buys-rights-to-preakness-black-eyed-susan-stakes/). [Eventually, racing will end at Laurel Park and it will be converted to a training facility run by the state, leaving Pimlico as the only track in the state for thoroughbred racing](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/05/16/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/). ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/16/repub/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/) - [Jefferson City News-Tribune reporting on the 2026 Preakness at Laurel Park](https://www.newstribune.com/news/2026/may/16/preakness-2026-at-laurel-park-will-be-tremendously-different-than-pimlico/) - [CBS Baltimore coverage of Pimlico demolition and renovation](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/demolition-baltimore-pimlico-race-preakness-maryland-horse-park-heights/) - [Maryland Matters reporting on Laurel Park hosting the Preakness](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/05/16/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/) - [CBS Sports coverage of 2026 Preakness Stakes](https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/2026-preakness-stakes-predictions-odds-field-location-post-time-top-picks-from-proven-horse-racing-expert/) - [The Spun reporting on Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo](https://thespun.com/trending/horse-dies-at-laurel-park-roughly-24-hours-before-2026-preakness-stakes) - [Maryland Matters reporting on Churchill Downs acquisition and state acquisition plans](https://marylandmatters.org/2026/04/21/churchill-downs-buys-rights-to-preakness-black-eyed-susan-stakes/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/16/repub/laurel-park-gets-its-moment-in-the-spotlight-for-a-one-time-scaled-down-preakness/.