If you ask any casual fan where the Preakness Stakes happens, they'll tell you Baltimore. They’ll point toward Pimlico Race Course, the legendary "Old Hilltop." But history is rarely that clean. Honestly, the story of where the Preakness was held is a weird, winding road that actually leaves Maryland entirely for a while.
You’ve probably seen the yellow paint and the wood-and-iron cupola. You know the vibe. But for a significant chunk of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the "Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown" wasn't even in the same state. It was a New York affair. Sorta crazy, right?
The Birth at Pimlico
It all started in 1873. Two years before the first Kentucky Derby even existed, Pimlico held the inaugural Preakness. A horse named Survivor won that day by ten lengths. That was a record that stood for over a century until Smarty Jones finally smashed it in 2004.
The track itself, Pimlico, opened its doors in 1870. The race was named after a colt called Preakness (fun fact: the name comes from a New Jersey farm, which is a whole other rabbit hole). For those first 16 years, everything was standard. The race was a Maryland staple. Then, the wheels fell off.
Why the Race Left Maryland
Politics and gambling laws are usually the culprits when sports get weird. In 1889, the Maryland Jockey Club hit a wall. Financial issues and shifting interests meant they actually stopped running the race at Pimlico after that year.
Where was the Preakness held during this dark age?
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In 1890, the race moved to Morris Park Racecourse in Westchester County (now part of the Bronx), New York. It was a total mess by modern standards. It was run as a handicap race, and they even let five-year-olds run in it. A horse named Montague won that year.
After 1890, the race just... vanished. For three years, there was no Preakness. No Maryland, no New York, nothing. It was basically a dead tradition until a group of New York racing enthusiasts decided to revive it in 1894.
The Gravesend Years (The "Lost" Preaknesses)
For 15 years, from 1894 to 1908, the Preakness was a Brooklyn event. It was held at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island.
If you look at the official record books today, these New York races are counted, but for a long time, they were the "Lost Preaknesses." They weren't always for three-year-olds, and the distances were all over the place. Sometimes it was 1 1/16 miles; sometimes it was a mile and 70 yards.
People in Baltimore weren't exactly thrilled. Their crown jewel was being polished by New Yorkers. But without Gravesend, the race probably would have died out entirely. Brooklyn kept the flame alive until Maryland finally got its act together.
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Where was the Preakness held after the return?
In 1909, the Preakness finally came home to Pimlico. It hasn't left since—well, at least not yet.
The return was a massive deal. This is when the traditions we know today really started to bake into the culture. The painting of the weather vane? That started in 1909. The singing of "Maryland, My Maryland" (which has its own complicated history and was eventually dropped in 2021) became part of the ritual during this era.
Pimlico earned its nickname "Old Hilltop" because of a literal rise in the infield where fans could see the horses better. Over time, that hill was leveled to make room for cameras, but the name stuck.
The Big 2026 Shift
Now, we’re looking at another chapter. If you're looking for where the Preakness is held right now, it’s still Baltimore. But the 2026 race is going to be a curveball.
Pimlico is currently undergoing a massive, multi-million dollar reconstruction. The place is old. Like, "parts of it are literally falling down" old. Because of the construction, the 2026 Preakness Stakes will move to Laurel Park.
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Laurel is about 20 miles south of Pimlico. It’s a temporary move—the plan is to return to a shiny, new Pimlico in 2027—but it marks the first time since 1908 that the race won't be held at Old Hilltop.
Quick Reference: The Locations Through History
- 1873 – 1889: Pimlico Race Course (Baltimore, MD)
- 1890: Morris Park Racecourse (The Bronx, NY)
- 1891 – 1893: Not held (The "Gap" years)
- 1894 – 1908: Gravesend Race Track (Coney Island, NY)
- 1909 – 2025: Pimlico Race Course (Baltimore, MD)
- 2026 (Planned): Laurel Park (Laurel, MD)
- 2027 and beyond: Pimlico Race Course (Post-renovation)
Why This Matters for Fans
The Preakness is the "party" leg of the Triple Crown. While the Derby is all about mint juleps and high society, and the Belmont is the "Test of the Champion," the Preakness has always been a bit more accessible. Knowing the history of where the race was held helps you appreciate how close we came to losing it.
If those New York tracks hadn't stepped in during the 1890s, Secretariat’s legendary 1973 run wouldn't have been a Triple Crown moment. It would have just been a fast race at a local track.
What you should do next:
If you're planning to attend, keep a very close eye on the 2026 transition to Laurel Park. The logistics—parking, seating, and the "InfieldFest" vibe—will be totally different than the classic Pimlico setup. If you want the "classic" experience, 2025 is your last shot before the temporary move. Otherwise, wait for the grand reopening in 2027 to see the new face of Maryland racing.