About Pimlico

Pimlico, within London in the City of Westminster, lent its name first to a pub (Olde Ben Pimlico’s Tavern) and then, due to English settlers, this age-old race track.

Situated in Baltimore, Maryland, less than 10 miles from downtown Baltimore up the I-83 and under 20 miles to Baltimore/Washington International Airport on the I-195, the track is within easy reach of a large population which helps bring in huge crowds every year.

The track hosts thoroughbred races and is of course famed for its part in the Triple Crown, hosting the Preakness Stakes each May. Pimlico is owned by the Maryland Jockey Club and is affectionately known as “Old Hilltop” owing to the infield rise which tends to play host to horsemen and the public alike.

Pimlico History

Pimlico Race Course opened way back in 1870 and is now an institution. A beautiful colt called Preakness won the inaugural running of the Dinner Party Stakes and he of course now provides his name to the middle leg of the American Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes has been run here since 1873.

Pimlico was the venue for the match-up between the amazing Seabiscuit and War Admiral in front of 43,000 people in the Pimlico Special back in 1938. The race was won by Seabiscuit.

The Great Fire of Baltimore in 1904, Prohibition and the Great Depression of the 1930’s all left their mark on Pimlico but none have damaged it permanently as the track has ridden every wave coming its way over its long and illustrious career.

A peak was reached in 2007 when Preakness day brought about $87 million in bets on the day and an attendance at the track of an astonishing 121,263 people.

Pimlico Track Details

As is standard among top-level American tracks, Pimlico has a one-mile dirt oval track made up of loam and a seven-furlong turf track to the inner. There is a run of 1,150 feet from the final turn to the wire.

Pimlico can host over 1,000 horses and, when the infield is open during the Preakness meet, more than 120,000 people too. Around half of the total capacity is housed in the infield in fact.

Biggest Races

The Preakness meet takes place in May and features 12 days of living racing with the Mothers Day Buffet taking place on the Sunday before the big race.

Friday and Saturday of the Preakness meet feature the following races:

Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) – 9½ furlongs for 3yo’s, the middle leg of the Triple Crown
Dinner Party Stakes (Grade 2) – 9 furlongs (turf), handicap for 3yo’s and older
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Grade 2) – 9 furlongs for 3yo fillies
Pimlico Special (Grade 3) – 9½ furlongs for 3yo’s and older
Maryland Sprint Handicap (Grade 3) – 6 furlong handicap for 3yo’s and older

Address

5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA

Contact

(410) 542-9400