Laurel Park Saved From Demolition
- Angela Latham Kozlowski
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Site Will Host Significantly Scaled-Down Preakness in May
Hold on to your fancy hats and mind your bets, horse racing fans, big changes are again expected to impact Laurel Park. Following the ups and downs of the fate of Laurel’s storied racetrack has become like a ride on a merry-go-round: up with the news of much needed renovations to both historic race tracks; down with the news of Laurel Park’s closing and demolition; up with the news of the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes coming to Laurel; down with news of the drastic scaling down of that race; and up with the news that the state has now reached a tentative agreement to buy Laurel Park for use as Pimlico’s training facility. No doubt there will be more to come, but here is what has happened and where things stand.
In the spring of 2024, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill that focused investment in improving Pimlico’s racing facilities and removed earlier funding set aside for upgrades to Laurel Park, thereby setting it up for permanent closure. The new bill put $110 million toward the creation of a separate horse training facility. Several candidates for this training facility were considered. Shamrock Farm in Carroll County was selected in early 2025 by the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). All parties began to look forward to a new era for the industry.
The state began conducting feasibility studies at Shamrock Farm to determine its use as Pimlico’s training facility. As the state was conducting its due diligence with regard to Shamrock Farm, the owner of Laurel Park—1/ST Laurel, LLC, a subsidiary of The Stronach Group—began the process of seeking a change of zoning for their property for a residential and retail subdivision through Anne Arundel County. Meanwhile, the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) took over the responsibilities of the MTROA, which was dissolved.
For its part, 1/ST Laurel, LLC sought to reclassify the existing approximately 229.188 acres of land, that was split-zoned as W1 (Industrial) and OS (Open Space), to a MXD-S (Mixed-Use-Suburban) zone, according to a May 2025 letter requesting the reclassification to the Zoning Division for Anne Arundel County from a 1/ST Laurel legal representative.
A Laurel Park Sketch Plan (an initial layout of the proposed project) also was submitted to the county on behalf of 1/ST Laurel, LLC. The plan noted that 1/ST Laurel planned a mix of housing options similar to that of the adjacent Paddock Pointe development in Howard County, as well as commercial uses, such as restaurants and retail.
Anne Arundel county departments began initial assessments of the property, based on the sketch plan, for use in a mixed-use capacity, pending formal receipt of approval at a zoning hearing scheduled for December of 2025. The county indicated that the land has considerable environmental constraints, including a 100-year floodplain, nontidal wetlands, and associated nondisturbance zones associated with its use under the proposed zoning change.
However, no hearing has been held. As of this writing, the Anne Arundel County website states that the hearing regarding the zoning change request, scheduled for December 11, 2025, has been postponed and has not been rescheduled at this time.
Also, over the summer months of 2025, the MSA began its due diligence with respect to the site chosen as Pimlico’s training facility. It had gained right of entry to Shamrock Farm in March. However, by the end of the year, development of a horse training center at that location was deemed not a viable option due to unexpected environmental and cost constraints.
Change of Plans in 2026
With Shamrock Farm out, the MSA announced in January that “it has reached a tentative agreement with The Stronach Group to acquire Laurel Park for the purposes of redevelopment into a premier hub for thoroughbred training in Maryland. The deal is projected to save roughly $50 million and marks a strategic realignment of the State’s plans to transform the Pimlico Race Course into the heart of statewide thoroughbred racing, build a world-class horse training center, and secure the future of Maryland’s multi-billion-dollar horse racing industry.”
Further, the MSA’s webpage quotes Chairman Craig A. Thompson as saying that this “action marks the first step in writing the next chapter of Maryland’s rich thoroughbred racing heritage,” and that it “represents more than a planned acquisition—it represents the preservation of a storied racing facility. By pursuing Laurel Park as the home of Maryland’s statewide training center, we are creating a path to secure the state’s historic investments into Maryland’s horse industry and develop the next generation of Triple Crown champions.” The Maryland Jockey Club, recently formed as a nonprofit organization that operates under the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), will continue to oversee daily operations at Laurel Park, and once completed, at Pimlico racetrack, under state ownership.
MSA is expected to convene a task force to determine Shamrock Farm’s future, including potential use as horse rescue sanctuary space or for future recreational development, according to its website.
Scaled Down, Way Down
The Preakness Stakes brings tens of thousands of people to Pimlico every year to enjoy a day of horse racing and entertainment. The infield is known for its big party energy and younger crowd. This year, at Laurel Park, there will be no infield party. Tickets for the event are limited in number and high in price. TheRacingBiz.com reported in February that attendance for the Preakness Stakes will be capped at 4,800 people and that all tickets will be sold as two-day packages covering both Black-Eyed Susan Friday and Preakness Saturday.
The site further noted, “Of those, 1,000 will be general admission, with the rest divvied up among ‘private luxury suites,’ the ‘turfside terrace,’ and dining and simulcast areas.” For comparison, The Racing Biz noted that in 2017 the Preakness Stakes reported a record crowd of 140,237 fans at Pimlico. Ticket sales began on February 25 with general admission tickets selling for $246.
In addition to no infield ticket sales, the website also attributed the intimacy of this year’s running of the Preakness to interior grandstand renovations started several years ago by 1/ST Racing that were halted prior to completion that left a “significant chunk of the grandstand without seats of any sort.”
Kevin Leonard and Jeff Krulik contributed to this article.
Angie Latham Kozlowski is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for the Laurel History Boys. In addition to her investigative reporting, her articles frequently spotlight Howard County.