Old Hilltop is dying. Or, well, it’s being reborn, which in the world of horse racing basically means a wrecking ball is coming for the Maryland institution we've known since 1870. If you’ve spent any time looking for pimlico race course photos, you’ve probably noticed a stark divide between the glossy, high-definition shots of Triple Crown winners and the gritty, peeling-paint reality of the backstretch.
It’s a weird place. Honestly, Pimlico is a beautiful disaster.
The track sits right in the middle of a Baltimore neighborhood that has seen better days, and that juxtaposition is exactly what makes the photography there so compelling. You have these multi-million dollar athletes—horses like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and more recently, National Treasure—thundering down a stretch of dirt while the rusted skeleton of the grandstand looms in the background. If you’re a photographer or just a fan trying to archive the place before the $400 million renovation wipes the slate clean, you’re essentially racing against time.
The Visual Identity of the Preakness Stakes
When people search for pimlico race course photos, they usually want one of two things: the winner’s circle at the Preakness or the absolute chaos of the infield.
The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the Triple Crown, and it’s the only time of year the world actually looks at Pimlico. Because of this, the "official" photography is very curated. You’ll see the Black-Eyed Susan flowers (which are actually painted daisies, because Black-Eyed Susans don't bloom in May) draped over a horse’s neck. You'll see the weather vane being painted in the colors of the winning silks. These are the iconic shots. But they don't tell the whole story of the track's 150-plus year history.
Take a look at the archives from the 1973 Preakness. The photos of Secretariat winning are legendary, but the shots of the crowd are even better. 1970s Baltimore was a vibe. You had men in full suits next to people in t-shirts that would probably get you arrested today.
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Why the Infield Photos Look So Different Now
If you find pimlico race course photos from the 1980s or 90s Infield Fest, they look like a war zone. It was basically Woodstock with more bourbon. People used to bring in literal truckloads of beer. There are famous photos of "The Running of the Port-a-Potties," where fans would sprint across the tops of the plastic toilets while people inside threw things at them.
The Stronach Group, which owns the track (for now, until the state takeover is finalized), cracked down on that years ago. They had to. It was a liability nightmare. Now, if you look at modern photos of the infield, it’s all barricades, VIP tents, and corporate branding. The grit is gone, replaced by a sanitized version of "fun" that looks great on Instagram but lacks the soul of the old shots.
Rare Gems: What to Look for in Vintage Archives
Most people stick to the Getty Images or Associated Press wire photos. Those are fine. They're professional. But if you want the soul of the track, you have to dig into the Maryland Historical Society or the Baltimore Sun’s old film archives.
Specific things to look for:
- The 1938 Match Race: War Admiral vs. Seabiscuit. The photos from this day are some of the most important in American sports history. There were 40,000 people crammed into a space built for far fewer. The shots of the crowd leaning over the rails are breathtaking.
- The 2015 "Monsoon" Preakness: When American Pharoah won in a literal deluge. The photos of the track looking like a chocolate river are haunting. You can barely see the horse through the spray.
- The Backstretch Workers: These are the photos people ignore. The grooms, the hot walkers, the people who live at the track. These shots show the "stable life" that hasn't changed much in a century, even as the grandstand crumbled.
The Architecture of Decay
Pimlico is a relic. There is no other way to put it.
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Part of the reason pimlico race course photos are so popular with urban explorers and architectural photographers is that the grandstand is literally falling apart. Large sections of it have been condemned for years. In 2019, they had to close off nearly 7,000 seats because the structure wasn't safe.
There’s a specific kind of beauty in that decay. The way the light hits the empty betting windows. The faded "Win-Place-Show" signs. For a photographer, the texture of the old wood and the rusted iron provides a depth you just can't get at a modern, sterile facility like Gulfstream or the newly renovated Saratoga.
I talked to a local Baltimore photographer last year who spent three days just shooting the shadows in the lower grandstand. He said it felt like "shooting a ghost." He’s right. When you look at these images, you're looking at the end of an era.
Technical Tips for Shooting at Pimlico
If you’re heading out there with a camera—whether it’s a Sony A7R or just your iPhone—you need to understand the light at Old Hilltop.
The track faces northeast. This means for the early morning workouts (which usually happen around 6:00 AM), you get this incredible golden backlight coming over the barns. It’s the best time to get pimlico race course photos that feel intimate. The horses are steaming in the cool air, and the riders are usually more relaxed.
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- Use a Long Lens for the Track: You aren't getting near the rail without a press pass. A 70-200mm is the bare minimum; 400mm is better.
- Focus on the Eyes: Horse racing is about emotion. If you can catch the eye of the horse or the jockey, the photo becomes a story.
- Don't Ignore the Neighborhood: Some of the best shots of Pimlico are taken from outside the gates, showing the track's place within the Park Heights community.
The Future: Will the Photos Still Matter?
Maryland is currently in the process of a massive transition. The state is taking over the track. The plan is to tear down the existing structures and build a new, smaller, more modern clubhouse and track.
This means the pimlico race course photos being taken right now are the last ones that will ever show the "Old Hilltop" we know. Once the bulldozers finish, the sightlines will change. The iconic silhouette of the grandstand will be gone.
Statistically, attendance at the Preakness has hovered around 100,000 for years, but the everyday "dark day" attendance is abysmal. The track is a ghost town 360 days a year. Photography captures that silence perfectly. There is a profound sadness in a photo of a betting hall designed for thousands that only contains three old men in wrinkled hats staring at a TV screen.
Actionable Steps for Collectors and Fans
If you are looking to acquire or take high-quality images of this historic site, don't just wait for the next Preakness.
- Visit during the off-season: The track is often open for simulcasting. You can walk through parts of the grandstand and get shots of the architecture without the crowds.
- Check the Library of Congress: They have high-resolution scans of Pimlico from the early 20th century that are royalty-free.
- Support local photojournalists: Look for work by Baltimore-based photographers who have covered the "Save the Preakness" movement. They have the most raw, unfiltered images of the facility’s struggle.
- Label your own files: If you're taking photos today, metadata is king. Record the date and the specific location (e.g., "Pimlico Grandstand, Section 20, May 2024"). In twenty years, these will be primary historical documents.
The demolition is scheduled to begin in earnest after the 2025 Preakness. That gives you a very narrow window to capture the grit, the rust, and the glory of one of America's oldest sporting venues before it becomes another glass-and-steel "multi-use" facility. Get your camera ready. Old Hilltop won't wait much longer.