The Laurel Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late September at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland . Run over a distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 16 miles on turf , at one time it was a Grade I stakes race on dirt, and one of the richest and most important races for two-year-old American thoroughbreds . When the race was moved from the dirt to the turf in 2005, it lost its graded status and was subsequently ineligible for grading in 2006. The race was finally cancelled in 2008 for economic reasons. It was announced by Laurel Park that the famed race would be restored in 2011 and run on October 8 at 6 furlongs.
43-541: Originally known as the Pimlico Futurity (the race began at Pimlico Race Course in 1921, only moving to Laurel in 1969 where it was briefly known as the Pimlico-Laurel Futurity ). Past winners include Triple Crown champions Count Fleet , Citation , Secretariat and Affirmed , who defeated his arch rival Alydar in this race. Speed record: Most wins by an owner: Most wins by
86-590: A jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland , most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes . Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London . The racetrack is nicknamed "Old Hilltop" after
129-429: A late run, crossing the finish line three lengths ahead of Ten Broeck and six ahead of Tom Ochiltree, which had helped to set the early pace with Barbee in the irons. An estimated 20,000 people crowded into Pimlico to witness the event. The event is depicted in a four-ton stone bas relief—copied from a Currier & Ives print and sculpted in stone by Bernard Zuckerman—hanging over the clubhouse entrance at Pimlico. It
172-567: A small rise in the infield that became a favorite gathering place for thoroughbred trainers and race enthusiasts. Pimlico was owned by the Stronach Group from 2011 until 2024, when ownership transferred to the state-run Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). Pimlico closed for renovations in September 2024, with all of Pimlico's racing dates except for the 2025 Preakness Stakes transferred to Laurel Park until
215-510: A strategic partnership since 2019. In September 2021, the company opened a career center at Hollywood Casino Morgantown. In February 2022, Penn National announced a strategic partnership with Sports Betting Exchange in Louisiana. In April 2022, Penn launched sports betting in Ontario , Canada via theScore Bet. The company subsequently announced a sponsorship agreement between theScore and
258-418: Is 30 feet (9.1 m) long and 10 feet (3.0 m) high and is gilded in 24-karat gold leaf. The track has a one-mile dirt oval, surrounding a seven- furlong (7/8 mile) turf oval. There are stables for about 1,000 horses. Pimlico's capacity, including the infield, is over 120,000 people. The track area is bounded by Park Heights and Winner Avenues to the west, West Rogers Avenue and West Northern Parkway to
301-667: Is more than a dirt track bounded by four streets. It is an accepted American institution, devoted to the best interests of a great sport, graced by time, respected for its honorable past." The races held at Pimlico, especially the Preakness, draw spectators from the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2007, the official attendance was 121,263 for the Preakness, the most people to watch a sporting event in Maryland history. More than $ 87.2 million in bets were made. On March 23, 2010, an agreement
344-419: The 1904 Great Fire of Baltimore , Great Depression of the 1930s, and several notable Baltimore riots. Pimlico also survived Prohibition and even an anti-gambling movement in 1910. A bill sponsored by the state racing commission in 1949 to abandon the track was originally supported by Governor William Preston Lane Jr. , who reversed his position in late March. As Alfred G. Vanderbilt said, "Pimlico
387-523: The Toronto Blue Jays as its "official gaming partner". In August 2022, the company changed its name to Penn Entertainment to reflect its diversification into sports content and other entertainment. In February 2023, Penn acquired the remainder of Barstool Sports for $ 388 million. In August 2023, Penn reached a ten-year, $ 2 billion licensing agreement with ESPN Inc. , under which Penn would rebrand Barstool Sportsbook as ESPN Bet later in
430-583: The Bullwhackers Casino to a local investor group. In April 2015, the company agreed to purchase the Tropicana Las Vegas for $ 360 million. In August 2016, the company agreed to purchase Rocket Games for $ 60 million. In May 2017, Penn National acquired the operating assets of Bally's Casino Tunica and Resorts Casino Tunica for a total of $ 44 million, and leased the two casinos from GLPI, which had simultaneously purchased
473-474: The Canadian digital media company Score Media and Gaming. It also offers sports betting in 17 U.S. jurisdictions and online casino gaming in five, under brands such as ESPN Bet and theScore Bet. In 1967, Pennsylvania enacted a law allowing thoroughbred horse racing with parimutuel wagering . Two companies that later formed part of Penn National Gaming were founded in 1968 by groups seeking one of
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#1732793811256516-611: The Maryland state government assume responsibility over racing operations. The General Assembly passed a bill ratifying the deal in April 2024, which provided for $ 400 million in state bonds to be used for renovations to Pimlico. The MTROA assumed ownership of the Pimlico property on July 1, 2024. On the same date, the Maryland Jockey Club announced that the entire Pimlico property would close on September 1, 2024 to begin
559-732: The Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association and moved to Penn National Race Course. Starting in 1973, as a tenant of the Turf Club, Mountainview held 100 nights of racing there each year. In 1982, Carlino purchased Penn National Race Course from the financially struggling Turf Club. The Turf Club continued to operate its own racing meet each year, now as a tenant of Carlino. The companies involved with Penn National Race Course were reorganized in 1994 in preparation for an initial public offering . PNRC Corp., which had been incorporated in 1982,
602-508: The Stronach Group announced that it had reached a deal with the Maryland state government to transfer ownership of Pimlico to the new Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), allowing for a multi-million dollar renovation project of the race course's track to begin and for the construction of a new training center at a separate location. The deal would also consolidate thoroughbred racing in Maryland to Pimlico and have
645-509: The acquisitions of Pocono Downs in 1996, Charles Town Races in 1997, and, in 1999, a half interest in Freehold Raceway and the operations of Garden State Park . Penn National also won approval to begin offering slot machines at Charles Town in 1997. The company acquired its first standalone casino properties in 2000, buying Casino Magic Bay St. Louis and Boomtown Biloxi from Pinnacle Entertainment for $ 201 million. This
688-670: The attendance during Preakness week. The race track itself would be rotated 30 degrees in order to create nine parcels of land that could be sold for private development, and new barns for horses would be constructed. The Racing and Community Development Act, approved by the Maryland General Assembly in May 2020, allowed the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue $ 375 million in bonds for the renovation of both Stronach Group tracks. On March 14, 2024,
731-457: The city of Baltimore and groups representing Maryland horsemen that would permanently keep the Preakness at Pimlico. As part of the agreement, The Stronach Group would donate both Pimlico and Laurel Park to newly established government entities that would oversee the properties, with Stronach licensed to conduct the race meets. Pimlico's grandstand would be demolished and replaced with a smaller structure, and temporary seating would be added to handle
774-501: The colors of the winner of the Preakness. The old Clubhouse was restored in 1956, with private rooms on the third floor named after Triple Crown winners. The President's room contained racing archives, while the second floor contained the Jockey's Hall of Fame. The building was richly decorated and housed a notable collection of racing art. The building burned down when a fire started in the front rooms on June 17, 1966. The only item salvaged
817-628: The companies to sub-license "skins" allotted to land-based casinos owned by Penn for offering iGaming and sports betting in their respective states. On January 29, 2020, Penn purchased a 36% stake in Barstool Sports for $ 163 million. During the COVID-19 pandemic , Penn faced the prospect of financial issues brought on by resort closures. As a result, Penn sold the land occupied by the Tropicana Las Vegas to GLPI. Penn sold
860-532: The company private with a $ 6.1 billion buyout fell through for prospective buyers Fortress Investment Group and Centerbridge Partners . In 2011, Penn National acquires the M Resort , its first property in Nevada. In November 2012, the company announced a plan to spin off a new real estate investment trust (REIT) with ownership of most of its properties, in an effort to reduce taxes and cost of capital, and overcome license ownership restrictions. The REIT owned
903-556: The four available racing licenses: Pitt Park Raceway, Inc., formed by several Erie area businessmen, and the Pennsylvania National Turf Club, established by a group of Central Pennsylvania investors. The Turf Club was awarded one of the licenses, and soon began construction on Penn National Race Course . The complex included a motor speedway, which held its first races in 1971, and the horse track, which opened in 1972. Pitt Park Raceway, meanwhile,
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#1732793811256946-534: The land and buildings for 21 of Penn National's 29 casinos and racetracks; Penn National continued to operate all but two of the properties under a lease agreement. The spin-off was completed on November 1, 2013, creating Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI). As of June 2022, the GLPI trust owned over 50 casino properties, which it leased to companies including Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming Corp., Casino Queen, and Cordish Cos. In July 2013, Penn National sold
989-639: The land for $ 337.5 million in rent credits, and the sale was finalized in April 2020. Penn continued to operate the Tropicana until 2022, when it was sold to Bally's Corporation . In September 2020, Penn and Barstool launched a branded mobile betting service known as Barstool Sportsbook . It was initially launched in New Jersey, and expanded to twelve states by 2021. In August 2021, Penn National agreed to acquire Canadian digital media company Score Media and Gaming for $ 2 billion. The companies have had
1032-406: The largest racetrack operator in the country. In June 2011, The Stronach Group took control of the tracks when MI Development bought out Penn National Gaming's minority stake in the Maryland Jockey Club, which owned Laurel Park Racecourse , Pimlico, and Bowie Race Track which is used as a training facility. The Stronach Group is owned by Canadian horse breeder and owner Frank Stronach, who also
1075-460: The match race in which Seabiscuit beat War Admiral in the second Pimlico Special , on November 1, 1938, before a crowd of 43,000. The capacity of the stadium is 98,983. The most notable architectural feature of the original racetrack was the members' Clubhouse, located on the first turn. A "steamboat Gothic-era" design, the Clubhouse was topped by a weathervane that was repainted each year in
1118-564: The north, Preakness Way to the east, and West Belvedere Avenue to the south. (Its namesake street, Pimlico Road, runs from the city line near Greenspring Avenue to Park Heights Avenue south of Cold Spring Lane, but is rendered discontinuous to through traffic between Northern Parkway and Belvedere Avenue.) The following stakes are run at Pimlico (in order of grade, then year inaugurated): Grade 1 Stakes Races: Grade 2 Stakes Races: Grade 3 Stakes Races: Listed (ungraded) Stakes Races: Other notable Stakes Races: Pimlico Race Course
1161-602: The project is completed. Pimlico officially opened in the October 25, 1870, with the colt Preakness winning the first running of the Dinner Party Stakes . Approximately 12,000 people attended, many taking special race trains arranged by the Northern Central Railway. Three years later the horse would have the 1873 Preakness Stakes named in his honor. The track is also noted as the home for
1204-496: The race course from light rail and metro stations. 39°21′13″N 76°40′23″W / 39.35361°N 76.67306°W / 39.35361; -76.67306 Penn National Gaming Penn Entertainment, Inc. , formerly Penn National Gaming , is an American entertainment company and operator of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gambling . It operates 43 properties in 20 states, under brands including Hollywood Casino, Ameristar, and Boomtown. It also owns
1247-771: The race track also use Pimlico Race Course to burn their chametz every year. Pimlico Race Course has typically accessed from either the Rogers Avenue Metro Station to the east in Park Heights, Baltimore , and to the west by the Mount Washington Light Rail station in Mount Washington . For major events, a shuttle is typically in place by the Maryland Transit Administration going to
1290-410: The real estate assets. In October 2018, the company acquired Pinnacle Entertainment for $ 2.8 billion in cash and stock. To ensure regulatory approval for the deal, Pinnacle sold four of its properties to Boyd Gaming prior to the merger. The result was the addition of twelve new properties to Penn National's holdings, all of them leased from GLPI. In connection with the sale, Penn National sold
1333-729: The real estate of Plainridge Park Casino to GLPI for $ 250 million. In 2019, Penn National made two purchases in conjunction with Vici Properties . Penn National bought the operating businesses of the Margaritaville Resort Casino in Louisiana and Greektown Casino–Hotel in Detroit for $ 115 million and $ 300 million, respectively, while Vici bought both properties' real estate assets and leased them to Penn. In July 2019, Penn reached market access agreements with multiple gaming companies, including DraftKings , PointsBet, theScore , and The Stars Group , which would allow
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1376-498: The reconstruction project, with Laurel Park hosting day-to-day thoroughbred racing and training in Maryland until renovations are completed. Pimlico is expected to temporarily reopen in May 2025 to host the 150th Preakness Stakes, while the Preakness in 2026 would be held at Laurel. On October 24, 1877, the United States Congress shut down for a day so its members could attend a horse race at Pimlico. The event
1419-510: Was MI Development's chairman and chief executive, a position he gave up in order to run Maryland's racetracks. Penn National bought a 49% stake in the Jockey Club in 2010 in hopes of securing a slots license at Laurel Park. In 2018, the track began using a GPS-based timing system. In February 2017, the Maryland Stadium Authority released the first phase of a study saying that Pimlico needed $ 250 million in renovations. In January 2018 it
1462-590: Was a 2½-mile match race run by a trio of champions: Ten Broeck , Tom Ochiltree , and Parole . Ten Broeck, the Kentucky champion, was owned by F. B. Harper. Tom Ochiltree, the Eastern champion and winner of the 1875 Preakness Stakes, was owned by George L. Lorillard , an heir to the Lorillard tobacco fortune. Parole, a gelding, was owned by Pierre Lorillard IV . Parole, with William Barrett up, prevailed with
1505-471: Was denied in its initial application, but received one of a second round of licenses issued in 1970. The first Pitt Park racing meet opened in 1971 at The Meadows , an existing harness racing track. Pitt Park lost half a million dollars in its first meet, leading its owners to sell the company to a group of investors, including Philadelphia insurance businessman Peter D. Carlino. After another unsuccessful season at The Meadows, Pitt Park changed its name to
1548-866: Was followed in 2001 by the acquisition of Carnival Resorts & Casinos, including ownership of Casino Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the management contract for Casino Rama in Ontario. Next, in 2002, it bought the Bullwhackers Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado from the Hilton Group for $ 6.5 million. In 2003, Penn National bought Hollywood Casino Corp. for $ 328 million plus $ 360 million in assumed debt, gaining three casinos in Aurora, Illinois ; Tunica, Mississippi ; and Shreveport, Louisiana . The acquisition, which doubled Penn National's revenues,
1591-544: Was part of a continuing strategy to shift away from the horse racing business and into the casino business. The company planned to rebrand its other properties under the Hollywood Casino name. In 2005, Penn National acquired Argosy Gaming Company for $ 1.4 billion plus $ 791 million in assumed debt, adding five casinos and one horse track to its portfolio (not including the Argosy Baton Rouge , which
1634-574: Was quickly sold to satisfy antitrust concerns ). The purchase again doubled Penn National's size, making it, at the time, the third largest publicly held gaming company in the country (behind MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment ). In November 2006, a deal for Penn National Gaming to acquire Harrah's Entertainment fell through. In 2007, Penn National acquired the Zia Park racino in Hobbs, New Mexico for $ 200 million. An attempt in 2007 to take
1677-494: Was reached to sell the two Maryland Jockey Club tracks (Pimlico and Laurel Park) from Magna Entertainment Corporation to its parent company, MI Development. On May 7, Penn National Gaming , with MI Development, announced they would jointly own and operate the Maryland Jockey Club. Penn National, which began in 1973, operating the Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania , has grown to become
1720-542: Was renamed as Penn National Gaming, with Mountainview and the Turf Club as its subsidiaries. Carlino's son, Peter M. Carlino, who had earlier managed Mountainview, was Penn National's first CEO, a position he held until 2013. In May 1994, Penn National Gaming became a public company via an initial public offering on the Nasdaq , raising $ 18 million to pay down debt and fund construction of off-track betting parlors. Penn National expanded beyond its first racetrack with
1763-569: Was reported that Pimlico renovation studies were continuing. A report issued on December 14, 2018 suggested the existing buildings be demolished and rebuilt. In a meeting held in June 2018 by the Maryland Stadium Authority, locals "overwhelmingly supported upgrading the track property." The Preakness Stakes took place at Pimlico in May 2019, with media reports suggesting that future Preakness races could be moved to Laurel Park . In October 2019, The Stronach Group reached an agreement in principle with
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1806-1016: Was the original US site for Virgin Festival from 2006 through 2008. The first was held on September 23, 2006, featuring bands The Killers , Red Hot Chili Peppers , and The Who . In 2007, it was a two-day festival (August 4–5) and featured The Police , the Beastie Boys , The Smashing Pumpkins , and Velvet Revolver . Its name was altered, to Virgin Mobile Festival , when it returned to Pimlico on August 9–10, 2008, with five headliners: The Foo Fighters , Kanye West , Stone Temple Pilots , Jack Johnson , and Nine Inch Nails . The event moved to Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2009. Since 2014, Pimlico Race Course has been home to Moonrise (festival) , an electronic dance music festival featuring artists such as Above & Beyond , Bassnectar , and Kaskade . The Orthodox Jewish community nearby to
1849-482: Was the weathervane, which was relocated to a replica Victorian cupola in the infield. The Preakness Stakes and the Pimlico Special are run at a distance of 1-3/16 miles (9½ furlongs). The Pimlico track record for that distance is held by Farma Way , who set it while winning the Pimlico Special in 1991. In the century and more since its opening, Pimlico Race Track has weathered much outside history including
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