Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott are planning a week-long festival to rejuvenate Preakness Stakes racing like Baltimore. plans to host the second jewel of the Triple Crown horse racing Fox Baltimore reports.
creation of 2025 Preakness Festival The 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course will be featured during the inaugural festival in association with the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (Sport Corp) on December 11 at Camden Yards. including “free and ticketed cultural events, arts events and other programs at prominent locations across the state.” Moore says the festival will help cultivate a legacy in addition to spurring growth in the tourism and hospitality industries. “The Preakness 150 will be more than a celebration. it will help us build a legacy in this city and this state,” Moore said.
“A legacy of progress, a legacy of opportunity, a legacy of growth and a legacy of leaving no one behind.”
He went on to say Exposure for Baltimore” according to The Baltimore Sun.
Scott celebrated the festival’s announcement with photos revealing the logo and the festival’s first lady, Dawn Moore.
“Come this May, thanks to the leadership and vision of Dawn Moore, @GovWesMoorewe’re bringing back the Preakness bigger and better than ever, kicking off the 150th celebration in true Baltimore fashion with the Preakness Festival.
Dawn said the idea came to her after she and her governor entered the 2022 Kentucky Derby and noted that the parties and community events were the first jewel of the Triple Crown that attracted Louisville. “We could have done it better.”
The dilapidated facility is slated to be demolished shortly after the races to make way for a new $400 million Pimlico redevelopment project that will be ready to host the Preakness by 2027. The renovated track is expected to become Maryland’s thoroughbred racing headquarters by the end of that year.
The event will be co-chaired by Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein, Stronach Group CEO Belinda Stronach and Stella May Contracting Chief Financial Officer Christian Johansson remembered being surprised while having lunch with the first family and was excited to get on board. “How come no one has thought of that before?”
Growing up a mile from Pimlico, the MLB owner said he never visited the track because he wasn’t old enough, but vowed to be there to celebrate the winner in 2025.
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