Pimlico will attempt to pick up on Thursday where Laurel Park ended. The
Baltimore, Maryland, track is set to run a 31-day spring meeting, from April 20
to June 10, with the highlight being the 131st running of the $1 million
Preakness S. (G1) on May 20.
“We are headed back to Pimlico off the heels of a very good Laurel Park
winter meet,” said Lou Raffetto, president and chief operation officer of the
Maryland Jockey Club. “Not only will we be looking to produce another
record-setting Preakness day, but we are hoping to grow the daily business. We
are raising purses on the dirt races considerably and hope it will improve the
quality of racing.”
The spring meet will feature 27 stakes worth $4.455 million. Thirteen of the
races received purse increases and one was decreased. Opening weekend will
showcase six races — five on Saturday and one on Sunday — with the $200,000
Jim McKay Breeders’ Cup H. and $150,000 Federico Tesio S. headlining Saturday’s
card.
The 1 3/16-mile Preakness is the marquee race on May 20, but will be joined
by eight other stakes events on that Saturday, including the $250,000 Dixie S.
(G2) going nine furlongs on the turf and the $100,000 Sir Barton S. for
three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The Friday before the Preakness will feature
five stakes, with the $500,000 Pimlico Special S. (G1), $250,000 Black-Eyed
Susan S. (G2) and $125,000 Miss Preakness S. (G3) all set to go. All 10 of
Pimlico’s graded races will take place during Preakness weekend.
Maryland Jockey Club officials will also introduce a new wager when Pimlico’s
meet opens, a 25-cent Pick 6 wager with a guaranteed net payout of $5,000.
Live racing is scheduled on a Thursday through Sunday basis and will also
include Memorial Day on Monday, May 29. First post is 1:10 p.m. (EDT) for the
majority of the meet.