By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and first lady Dawn Moore attended a demolition ceremony for the old Pimlico Race Course that hosts the iconic Preakness Stakes annually in West Baltimore on Aug. 21.
Demolition is expected to conclude by the end of the year, with construction for the new race course kicking off early 2026. The Preakness Stakes will take place in Laurel, Md. in 2026 and come back to Pimlico in 2027.
Photo Credit: AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
“In 2024, legislation was enacted that authorized the Maryland State Authority to demolish, design and reconstruct the Pimlico Race Course here in Baltimore, and build a new training facility,” said Craig Thompson, chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority.
Officials said the project is expected to elevate Maryland and bring an unprecedented level of investment in the Park Heights area where the course resides.
At the site of the demolition, signs from the 150th Preakness remained as machines prepared to tear down the structure.
“Today marks the next leg of our journey to secure the future of horse racing in Maryland,” said the first lady. “This work paves the way for a reimagined Pimlico that will create jobs, grow our economy and generate a year-round hub of economic activity–not just in Park Heights, but for Park Heights.”
“The only way you address histories of disinvestment is by making sure you put a core focus on investments inside of communities and neighborhoods.”
The first lady also noted that 10 percent of annual profits from the new Pimlico Race Course will be invested directly into the Park Heights community. Those resources are expected to benefit the more than 89 percent African American residents in the area.
“The only way you address histories of disinvestment is by making sure you put a core focus on investments inside of communities and neighborhoods,” said Gov. Moore at the event.
Gov. Moore also spoke about the inclusion of Baltimore in the future of Maryland, highlighting the investments that have been made recently in Park Heights, including the funding for a library and investing in community initiative in the area via the ENOUGH Act, a state-wide effort to reduce concentrated poverty.
Thompson added that the project features a local hiring initiative, with Minority Business Enterprise goals set at 35 percent.
Great Job Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
