December 12th 2024.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott have some exciting news for the city! According to Fox Baltimore, they are teaming up to plan a week-long festival to revive the Preakness Stakes races. As Baltimore prepares to host the second jewel of the Triple Crown horse race, the 2025 Preakness Festival is set to take place. This exciting announcement was made during a press conference at Camden Yards on December 11, in partnership with the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland.
The 150th Preakness Stakes will be the highlight of the inaugural festival, featuring both free and ticketed cultural events, as well as arts activities and other programming throughout the state. Governor Moore believes that this festival will not only be a celebration, but also leave a lasting legacy for the city and state. He stated, "Preakness 150 will be more than a celebration - it will help us build a legacy in this city and this state. A legacy of progress, a legacy of opportunity, a legacy of growth, and a legacy of leaving no one behind."
Mayor Scott also expressed his excitement for the festival, sharing photos on social media of the festival's logo and the festival's leader, Maryland's First Lady, Dawn Moore. He wrote, "Baltimore, there's one more festival I couldn't wait to share with you all - 2025 Preakness Stakes! Come this May, thanks to the leadership and vision of Dawn Moore, @GovWesMoore, we're bringing Preakness back bigger and better than ever - kicking off the 150th celebration in true Baltimore fashion with a Preakness Festival."
The idea for the festival came to Dawn Moore after attending the Kentucky Derby with her husband in 2022. She noticed the parties and community events surrounding the first jewel of the Triple Crown and thought, "We could do it better." The Pimlico Race Course, where the Preakness is traditionally held, is currently in a state of disrepair. However, it is set to be torn down in the near future as part of a $400 million rebuild project. The new Pimlico is expected to be ready to host the Preakness by 2027 and will become the headquarters for Maryland thoroughbred racing.
The festival will be co-chaired by Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein, Stronach Group CEO Belinda Stronach, and Stella May Contracting chief financial officer Christian Johansson. Rubenstein was excited to join the festival after being approached by the first family. He recalled thinking, "How come nobody else thought of that before?" As someone who grew up a mile from Pimlico, Rubenstein promised to be there to celebrate the winner in 2025. He also shared his excitement for the future of the track, saying, "I never visited the track because I wasn't old enough, but I promise to be there to celebrate the winner in 2025!"
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