The City of Laurel Saddles Up

Mayor Keith Sydnor distributes posters for Main Street businesses to promote the city’s “Saddle Up Laurel!” initiative leading up to the Preakness. (Photo: City of Laurel)

As many Laurelites know, Laurel Park isn’t actually in Laurel. It is located outside the city’s administrative borders, in Anne Arundel County, but falls within an area—overlapping four counties—that the USPS has designated “Laurel” and which most people recognize as “greater Laurel.”

Try explaining that to out-of-state reporters.

Borders, schmorders. In the spirit of Laurel-wide pride and celebration over hosting the Preakness, the City of Laurel sponsored an initiative called “Saddle Up Laurel.” In March, Mayor Keith Sydnor unveiled the special program, describing it as “a citywide call to celebrate, participate, and showcase the very best of Laurel.” More than 20 downtown businesses participated in the program by displaying posters in their windows, participating in a resident scavenger hunt, offering promotional specials, and hosting watch parties. The Department of Public Works installed temporary artwork at two places on Main Street—literally on the street—depicting the silhouettes of four horses and jockeys racing in tight formation. That same artwork was featured on souvenir cups handed out by select restaurants. The city sponsored a special Movie Night, showing the award-winning film Secretariat.

Area restaurants were prepared for larger crowds than usual. Nadol Hishmeh, owner of Olive on Main, reported hosting several large groups from out of town during Preakness Week. Ginger Reeves, owner of Toucan Taco, said that her business was quite steady, but it was a different crowd: “My regulars weren’t here, I think because they wanted to avoid the traffic. But we had a lot of new customers come in, and Saturday was busy all day.” Oliver’s Old Towne Tavern on Main Street also reported a full house, as did Bank Shot Bar and Grill on Laurel-Ft. Meade Road. Judging by the cups and food wrappers seen in both of the grandstand’s media rooms, the WaWa on 198 and the Starbucks near Russett saw a lot of repeat customers over the course of the week.

Surrounding areas also benefited from Laurel’s big event. With not very many hotel rooms available in Laurel, many visitors stayed near the BWI Airport or Arundel Mills Mall, or in downtown Baltimore. At least one travel agency-organized group had a three-day agenda that included a visit to the Columbia Mall, and a small group of reporters from the Midwest watched the Orioles beat the Yankees at Camden Yards on May 13.

Although area residents expressed concerns over traffic jams, local news reported no major issues on Preakness day beyond the immediate areas near Laurel Park’s two entrances. Police and K-9 units conducting car checks at the backfield/barns entrance caused backups along Whiskey Bottom Road for a while on Saturday morning, and the parking lot itself was jammed up at the conclusion of racing, but no worse than after an Orioles or Ravens game.

Now that Laurel has successfully hosted the 2026 Preakness, the odds are long but hopes are high for a chance to repeat in 2027. Only time will tell.

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Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.