I remember when I was younger, under the age of 16, I used to marvel at all of the people in the Greater Park Heights community on that one special day in May. I knew many were from out of town and I used to watch as they dragged their coolers and carried their bags down side streets and up hills in the surrounding communities as they made their way to Pimlico. I remember the television commercial, “Hiiii, Hoooo, Pimlico!!”. I remember the distinct stench of the horses and their, well, you know, another way of describing this plan to vacate. My family lived in the general area of Pimlico Racecourse for most of my youth. I dreamed of turning 16 and getting a pickup truck and for that one day, I thought of how great it would be to shuttle all of those “out of towners” up to the racecourse with their coolers full of beer. I did the math. “Twenty-dollars a ride, GREAT!“ My cousins and I saw this as an opportunity. We didn’t care about the races. We just wanted to make some quick money. But that was a dream. I never got to do it, but I did get to see all of the neighbors sell their parking spots for upwards of $40. I also saw them cooking and selling their favorite meals. I also wondered how many revelers indulged in some of the Jamaican cuisine across the street from the racecourse.

The Preakness and Pimlico have been around longer than anyone reading this has been. It’s a staple. It just isn’t the same elsewhere. Imagine moving the Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Or better yet, the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis. Correct. It doesn’t make sense. This is similar to the Colts leaving Baltimore, taking the records, the jerseys, and all and leaving our culture with a void. The symbolism of the Preakness to Baltimore is one that is critically necessary right now. Baltimore can ill afford to be kicked while we’re down. Losing the Preakness will give a negative narrative nationally that is not needed for our city. The Stronach Group has a responsibility as investors of taxpayer money in our city.

The community of Park Heights is steeped in culture. The growth over the 140 years of Preakness has been slow. No doubt about that. But it is happening. Now is not the time to kick a city that is down and a community that is on the incline. The kids of Pimlico Elementary/Middle just started classes this past school year in their new state of the art building. I was honored to spend some time with the kids in their classroom and was impressed by the technology. It’s a community on the rise and Pimlico/Preakness is an intricate part of that.

A new Pimlico, like the study mentions, should have a community space and should be multi-functional for the city and the property. A venue that has events throughout the year beyond horseracing. And an educational opportunity for the young people in the Greater Park Heights community and citywide. An investment in Pimlico is an investment in the community. The Preakness leaving Baltimore would be catastrophically symbolic of the sign of the times. We have to think differently at a time like this.

The Preakness is not only the second jewel of the Triple Crown, it’s a cultural jewel in our city.

The Preakness may not belong to Baltimore, but the Preakness BELONGS in Baltimore.