Pimlico Racecourse Review

Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, was opened to the public on October 25, 1874. Engineered by General John Ellicott, Pimlico is the second oldest racecourse in the USA, the oldest being Saratoga, which opened in 1864 in New York. A number of legendary horses from all over the country have graced the tracks here, including the iconic Secretariat, Sir Barton, Seabiscuit, War Admiral, Cigar, and Man O’ War. Pimlico is home of the well-known Preakness Stakes. Racing stopped here for a while between 1889 and 1904, but has continued unabated since then to this day.

Affectionately known also as ‘Old Hilltop’ in the 1800s, the name Pimlico came courtesy of English settlers who came down in the 1600s from England. It is thought to be a reference to a fond memory then from England of the Olde Ben Pimlico’s Tavern, a famous landmark of the times. Pimlico was always known as a place where racing met fashion, with a hallmark at that time being a champagne lunch. This tradition continues even today, with more than 5000 people from the corporate world congregating at the Corporate Village at Preakness for the ‘garden party’.

Pimlico is the only race track in the USA that was honored by an adjournment of the US House of Representatives in 1877 so everyone could watch the ‘Great Race’, a race involving Parole, Tom Ochiltree, and Ten Broeck.

More about Pimlico Racecourse

Today, Pimlico Racecourse is considered an American institution because it has weathered all that came at it – the Great Depression of the 1930s, major wars, recession, and more. It has survived even the anti-gambling movement of 1910, when racing was banned everywhere else in the USA. And it has many firsts to its name, including being the first race track in the country to use an electric starting gate.

You can get all the information you want regarding Pimlico Race Course and its events by just accessing the website for the race track. The website provides not just an elaborate snapshot of the race track, but also makes all necessary information available at your fingertips. You can find all the data about the horsemen at Pimlico, including condition books, stakes schedules, Equibase entries, and more by clicking the Horsemen tab at the site. Any information related to the group and facility venues, parking, accommodations, and more are available under the Visitors tab. Other information available at the site include jockey bios, trainer bios, handicapping information, and more.

For information about the Preakness Stakes race, you can click the Preakness tab on the site’s home page. Here you get all the details about the race, tickets, events, infield, and more. Besides, if you are a newbie to the world of horse racing, you can learn about the different terms associated with the sport, betting procedures, and more by accessing the Beginner’s Guide to horse racing available at the company’s website.

Tickets and Seating at Pimlico Race Course

The gates at Pimlico usually open by 11:00 a.m. and any change to the timing is mentioned beforehand; you can find this information on the website. On Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, the gates close by 6:00 p.m., while on Wednesdays and Thursdays they close by midnight. Closing time on Fridays is 1:00 a.m., while on Saturdays it closes by 12:30 a.m.

One of the good things about Pimlico is the low cost associated with almost everything, be it parking (which is free for general admissions), seating, and more. All pricing information is available at the website. Admission is free for all children under the age of 12, provided they are accompanied by an adult always. There are also ATMs at the Pimlico Clubhouse and Sports Palace. ATMs are also available at the First Floor Grandstand during live racing action. Visitors also have the opportunity to get close to the horses as they enter the paddock.