The Stronach Group: Preakness Date Remains in Flux

The Stronach Group, which owns Maryland Jockey Club tracks Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park, announced May 6 that the date of the postponed Preakness Stakes (G1) has not been finalized. The TSG announcement came after WBAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Baltimore, reported the Preakness would be run Oct. 3.

"At this point, there is no definitive date set and we continue to explore options," TSG said in a statement. "Once a date for Preakness 145 has been finalized, an official announcement will be made."

The Preakness, typically the second leg of the NBC-televised Triple Crown, was originally scheduled for May 16 at Pimlico, but it was indefinitely postponed this spring as the COVID-19 pandemic developed. So, too, was the first leg of the series, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, though it was pushed to an established date, Sept. 5.

Shortly after the Churchill Downs announcement, Mike Ricci, the communications director for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, tweeted that "we are in active discussions to postpone the Preakness Stakes until September."

The Wednesday statement from TSG did not indicate whether the Preakness would remain at Pimlico or move to Laurel Park, where most racing is conducted in Maryland.

The New York Racing Association, which operates Belmont Park, the track that hosts the Belmont Stakes (G1), has yet to announce postponement plans for that leg of the series. Customarily five weeks after the Derby, it was slated for June 6 this year prior to COVID-19 developments.

There is no ongoing racing in New York, considered the epicenter for COVID-19 in the U.S., nor in Maryland. Racing in Kentucky is set to resume May 16 at Churchill Downs without spectators, and other tracks across the country that had racing suspended by the pandemic are beginning to receive government authorization to race.

"NYRA is in the process of working with state and local officials to safely resume live racing at Belmont Park," NYRA communications director Patrick McKenna said. "A determination about the timing of the 2020 Belmont Stakes will be made only after we have clarity on the opening of the Belmont spring/summer meet. The Belmont Stakes is a New York institution and we look forward to its 152nd edition in 2020."