5201 Park Heights Ave., 410/542-9400,
www.pimlico.com [1]
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 [2] 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 [3] (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.
Links:
[1] http://www.pimlico.com
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/baltimore/baltimore-s-best-arts-leisure/more-baltimore-s-arts-leisure/the-preakness-stakes
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/baltimore/discover-baltimore