Pimlico Race Course | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weekend Racing At Laurel Cancelled After New EHV-1 Positive At Pimlico

The Maryland Jockey Club was informed this evening by Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Michael Odian, that a horse at Pimlico has tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The horse had been isolated for 72 hours prior to the positive test.

As a result of the positive test, and as a proactive measure to protect the horse population in the state of Maryland, horses currently stabled at Pimlico will not be allowed to ship to Laurel until a full quarantine is lifted at both properties. Previously, the two properties had been quarantined as one facility. They will now be treated as two separate quarantine zones.

Because this will impact the fields for the races which were already set for this weekend, racing has been cancelled at Laurel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend. This decision was made in conjunction with the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

We extend our thanks to the Maryland Racing Commission, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the horsemen at the Maryland Jockey Club and our fans for their cooperation and understanding during this difficult situation.

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COVID-19: Limited Fan Attendance Of 10,000 To Be Permitted At Preakness

1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club announced today that Preakness 146 will run with a socially distant, limited crowd of 10,000 in attendance when it returns as the second jewel of the Triple Crown Series on Saturday, May 15 to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The decision to include fans was made in consultation with and by approval of local and state health and governmental authorities and includes the approval for a limited number of fans for Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday, May 14.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, April 5. Tickets will be available for Preakness Day and Black-Eyed Susan Day at www.preakness.com, by emailing tix@preakness.com or by calling the Preakness 146 Box Office toll-free at 1-877-206-8042, Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.

As a result of the enhanced health protocols and required social distancing guidelines, the seating manifest has been changed to reflect altered ticket options and viewing locations. Existing ticket holders, those who opted to carry over their tickets from Preakness 145 due to COVID-19 restrictions, will have the opportunity to relocate to the nearest equivalent seating area for this year's event beginning on March 24.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome fans back to Pimlico Race Course for Preakness 146,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, 1/ST. “While fan attendance will be limited due to COVID-19 protocols, the excitement of the Preakness is not limited. The 1/ST team has worked tirelessly and in cooperation with Baltimore City and the State of Maryland to thoughtfully and safely prepare for an exciting and memorable day of world-class Thoroughbred horse racing and entertainment.”

In full consideration for the health and safety of guests, horsemen, those on the backstretch and employees, 1/ST EXPERIENCE will deliver an entirely re-imagined entertainment and curated hospitality experience inclusive of COVID-19 protocols. From indoor dining in the Grandstand to premium outdoor viewing from the 1/ST Turn Suites and the iconic Turfside Terrace, guests will enjoy everything the Preakness has to offer in safety. Corporate Village Suites will feature luxury open air cabanas, lounge seating and the best race day views from their new spot on the home stretch. Individual tickets range in price from $150 to $500 with pricing available on request for suites.

“I want to thank 1/ST and The Maryland Jockey Club for working to ensure that all the proper safety and public health protocols will be in place for Preakness 146,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Having fans back at Pimlico is another sign we are on the road back to normal, and I look forward to once again presenting the Woodlawn Vase.”

“The Preakness is a Baltimore staple and the center of American horseracing since 1870. I am excited to welcome fans back to Pimlico Race Course in Park Heights,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Sustaining the health and safety of Baltimore residents is my top priority, and I am confident the staff at 1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club will protect the health of fans by following the safety guidelines set forth by the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland.”

Preakness 146 weekend will open with Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday, May 14 and will once again feature the $250,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). This year will mark the 97^th running of this historic race. Last year, 1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club announced the renaming of this race to honor the late George E. Mitchell and his work within the Park Heights community. The 146^th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) will take place on Saturday, May 15 as part of an incredible weekend featuring the finest contenders in Thoroughbred horse racing who will compete for a total of $3.25 million in purse winnings.

NBC Sports will broadcast Preakness 146 live on NBC from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET on race day, Saturday, May 15, with extended coverage beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, InfieldFest, the beloved annual music festival tradition at the Preakness that brings together fans for legendary performances, unique hospitality and curated activations, will not proceed as usual. Instead, 1/ST EXPERIENCE will introduce a new, socially distant live component, Preakness LIVE, that will run concurrently with the NBC broadcast and will be livestreamed featuring musical entertainment that will celebrate Baltimore's richness and diversity. Tickets for Preakness LIVE will be announced in the coming weeks.

Since the outset of the pandemic, 1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club have implemented stringent, industry-leading COVID-19 health and safety protocols to protect the community, riders, horsemen, those who work on the backstretch and 1/ST employees. COVID-19 protocols for Preakness 146 will include non-invasive thermal temperature scans on guest arrival, expedited entry for fully vaccinated guests, enforced physical distancing and queue line markers, increased sanitation throughout the facility, accessible hand sanitization stations and a mandatory masking policy. Preakness 146 health and safety protocols can be found at www.preakness.com/health-safety.

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Pimlico Announces $3.25 Million Spring Stakes Schedule

Featuring the return of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) to its familiar position as the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, the Maryland Jockey Club will offer 16 stakes, 10 graded, worth $3.25 million in purses over Preakness weekend, May 14-15, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

Postponed to Oct. 3 last year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the latest running in a history that dates back to 1873, the 146th Preakness for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles highlights a program of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $2.25 million Saturday, May 15 that includes the 120th edition of the $250,000 Dinner Party (G2) for 3-year-olds and up on turf, Pimlico's oldest stakes race and the eighth-oldest in the country, debuting in 1870.

In 2020, Swiss Skydiver become only the sixth filly in race history to win the Preakness, beating Kentucky Derby (G1) and subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic, who would go on to be named champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year. Swiss Skydiver was named champion 3-year-old filly.

Other graded-stakes on the Preakness undercard are the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds sprinting six furlongs, $150,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the grass, $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Arabian Derby (G1) for Arabian 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Sophomores will also be in the Preakness Day spotlight in both the $100,000 Sir Barton going 1 1/16 miles on dirt and $100,000 James W. Murphy at one mile on the grass. Rounding out the stakes are the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint, a five-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Skipat for females 3 and older sprinting six furlongs.

Both the Maryland Sprint, which had run continuously since its debut in 1989, and Sir Barton, first held in 1993 and named for racing's first Triple Crown winner, return to the stakes schedule this year.

The 97th running of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2), one of the premiere events in the country for 3-year-old fillies and contested at 1 1/8 miles, returns to its spot as the feature on Preakness eve, Friday, May 14, after being run as part of the revamped Preakness 2020 program.

A total of six stakes, four graded, worth $1 million in purses help comprise the Black-Eyed Susan Day card, including the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles, $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs, and $150,000 Allaire du Pont (G3).

For fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/8 miles, the du Pont resumes its spot on the Black-Eyed Susan day program after being rescheduled to late December and run as the last graded-stakes on the East Coast in 2020.

Two grass races round out the May 14 stakes program – the $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going a mile and $100,000 The Very One, a five-furlong dash for fillies and mares 3 and older.

The Preakness Meet at Pimlico is scheduled to open Friday, May 7 and conclude with a special Memorial Day program Monday, May 31.

Live racing is currently being conducted in Maryland at Laurel Park, which is nearing the March 28 end of its 2021 winter meet. The next live program will be Saturday, March 13 featuring five stakes worth $450,000 in purses including the $100,000 Private Terms for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Beyond the Wire for 3-year-old fillies.

Ticket information for Preakness Day and Black-Eyed Susan Day will be announced shortly.

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Developing Story: Three Barns At Laurel Under Quarantine Due To Equine Herpesvirus

The Maryland Jockey Club alerted horsemen on Tuesday that three barns at Laurel Park — Barns 4, 10, and 11 — have been placed under quarantine due to equine herpesvirus.

Horsemen are asked to take horses' temperatures twice daily and monitor them for signs of the disease. Equine herpesvirus is a highly transmissible respiratory illness which can spread through nasal discharge or aerosol droplets. It can also be spread passively on surfaces such as human hands, shared grooming tools, and tack. There are several strains of equine herpesvirus, with the most common being EHV-1 and EHV-4. EHV-1 presents as a mild respiratory illness with fever, lethargy, and nasal discharge, but some strains of the virus can cause severe neurological disease and death. EHV-4 can also present with similar respiratory symptoms but can also cause abortion in pregnant mares as well as severe neurologic disease.

During equine herpesvirus outbreaks, horsemen and staff are typically encouraged to minimize traffic of people and horses between barns and to practice good biosecurity protocols to avoid transmission of the disease.

Laurel officials are awaiting instructions from state animal health officials on movement of horses and Tuesday morning's announcement stated that all horses at Laurel are required to stay on the grounds until further guidance is provided. Horses shipping into Laurel will also be required to stay there until more guidance is issued. Horses at Pimlico are not subject to those restrictions at this time.

A Zoom meeting has been scheduled by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to allow the Maryland Office of the State Veterinarian to field questions from horsemen about the outbreak.

It remains unclear how many horses have tested positive, whether there are positive cases in all three quarantined barns, or whether the neurological strain of equine herpesvirus is involved. This story will be updated as those details are confirmed.

EHV-1 outbreaks have been in the headlines in the equestrian world in recent weeks. A large outbreak in Europe has frozen international competitions there, and an outbreak connected to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., saw its third suspected case over the weekend after two horses tested positive. All three horses exhibited high fevers, one nine days after leaving the Center.

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