Why Is the Preakness Stakes Being Run at Laurel Park Instead of Pimlico?
The Preakness Stakes has called Pimlico Race Course home for over a century. This year, that changes.
For the first time since the late 1800s, the second leg of the Triple Crown is leaving Baltimore. Pimlico, known widely as "Old Hilltop," has hosted the Preakness since 1873 and just last year celebrated its 150th running of the race, with Journalism winning in front of a packed grandstand.
But the facility has been showing its age for a while now and the wear finally caught up with it. Deteriorating infrastructure and aging seating areas pushed Maryland Jockey Club officials and state leaders toward a full redevelopment.
The grandstand is coming down. The racetrack layout is being redesigned to better serve the surrounding community going forward. With the site now deep in construction, the race had to find a temporary home, and that home is Laurel Park, about 30 miles away.
The move is expected to last just one year. Pimlico is projected to be ready again in time for the 2027 Preakness. Once that happens, Laurel Park is set to transition into a training facility.
2026 Preakness Stakes: Date, Time, and How to Watch
The 2026 Preakness Stakes runs Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. The day starts well before the featured race with several undercard events filling out the afternoon card. Official post time for the Preakness is set at 6:50 p.m. ET.
NBC picks up coverage at 4 p.m. ET and carries the main race. Fans who want to catch the full day from the beginning can stream it on Peacock starting at 1 p.m. ET.
2026 Preakness Stakes: Full Horse Entries
Monday's post-position drawing locked in a 14-horse field for this year's race. The full lineup includes:
- Taj Mahal
- Ocelli
- Crupper
- Robusta
- Talkin
- Chip Honcho
- The Hell We Did
- Bull By The Horns
- Iron Honor
- Napoleon Solo
- Corona de Oro
- Incredibolt
- Great White
- Pretty Boy Miah
It's a deep and interesting field stepping onto a track that has never hosted this race before. The venue is different, the setting is new to the Preakness stage and the horses running Saturday will be part of a chapter in Triple Crown history that only comes around once.
Related: Will Golden Tempo Run the Preakness Stakes After Kentucky Derby Win?
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 11:01 AM.