Pimlico Race Course
Print
Email
Save to Favorites
5201 Park Heights Ave., 410/542-9400,
www.pimlico.com
The nation’s second-oldest horse-racing track (behind New York’s Saratoga) opened in 1870, covering 70 acres of what was then countryside north of Baltimore City. Although there was a period (1889–1904) when there was no flat-track racing here, Pimlico has now been running the horses for more than 104 years. The first Preakness Stakes was run here in 1873, two years before the first Kentucky Derby.
“Old Hilltop,” as it’s called by old-timers, runs races throughout the spring, sharing the state’s racing season with another track in Laurel, south of Baltimore (check the website for schedules). Weekday attendance is pretty sparse, so if you’re looking for a quiet day at the races, Pimlico is a lock. Crowds erupt, however, on the third Saturday in May, when the Preakness draws over 100,000 fans.
© Geoff Brown from Moon Baltimore, 1st Edition
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.