Pimlico might be pulling up lame ? with Laurel closing in fast.
A renowned horse racing track in northwest Baltimore, Pimlico is not without its share of controversy as the 103rd running of the Preakness Stakes inches closer this weekend.
The other thoroughbred racing track in Maryland, Laurel, is seeing its numbers inch up, while Pimlico?s trend down.
In the most recent attendance figures released by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Laurel saw 300,000 more people a year than Pimlico, totaling 770,000.
Pimlico, meanwhile, finished at 470,000.
Laurel also saw more money wagered for the year, nearly $171 million. Again, Pimlico finished far behind at $117 million. Even purses are higher at Laurel, with Laurel awarding purses topping $23 million, and Pimlico?s closer to $11 million.
The only area in which the Baltimore-based track held a distinct advantage was in tax revenue, with Pimlico reported as earning more than $1.29 million in state taxes, while Laurel contributed about $812,000.
Pimlico?s pattern more closely matches state trends for equine business. However, many say a rebound is a real possibility.
In the most recent session of the state Legislature in Annapolis, lawmakers discussed an estimated $95 million in purse funds for the industry. This would help avoid more cuts to race days, which have fallen from 220 to 185 over the last several seasons, The Examiner previously reported.
“I am very optimistic about the horse industry in general,” said Tom Perez, secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. “The horse racing industry has been a linchpin of our economy for generations. Obviously, there are some physical challenges now, and we have to continue to make sure we have a thriving horse industry.”
All sides agree that there is no one answer, but something must be done soon.
“Failure is not an option,” Perez said. “A comprehensive solution is going to require very careful attention to a host of issues.”
