The Maryland Stadium Authority on Monday voted to “purchase” Laurel Park from The Stronach Group for $48.5M. After hosting next month’s Preakness Stakes -- relocated while Pimlico Race Course undergoes a $400M renovation -- Laurel Park is to be “transformed into a statewide thoroughbred training center.” The purchase, originally approved in January, enables the state to “pivot thoroughbred training operations to Laurel Park while focusing on hosting ship-in racing events at Pimlico.” The stadium authority expects to spend up to $120M on the “purchase and upgrades to the Laurel track.” The authority is “no longer considering an alternative horse training site” at Shamrock Farm. The MSA will “present the deal to the Board of Public Works on June 17 and expects to close the purchase by June 29″ (BALTIMORE SUN, 4/20).
Maryland Stadium Authority approves Laurel Park purchase
