Sports

Preakness Stakes May Be Moved To October: Report

A new date for the Preakness Stakes is reportedly being "floated," after the new coronavirus altered plans at Pimlico Race Course.

This year will mark the 145th annual Preakness Stakes.
This year will mark the 145th annual Preakness Stakes. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE, MD — The Preakness Stakes will possibly be held in October, according to NBC Sports. A date has not been finalized for the race at Pimlico Race Course, organizers say.

The Preakness Stakes, which is the second jewel of the Triple Crown, is normally held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby on the third Saturday in May. This year, the race had been planned for Saturday, May 16.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the races were postponed.

Find out what's happening in Hunt Valley-Cockeysvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Kentucky Derby will be held Sept. 4.

The Preakness Stakes may be in October, NBC first reported Wednesday. After initially announcing a broadcast date of Oct. 3 had been set, NBC revised its statement, saying: "A potential date could be set for the 145th Preakness Stakes. An October date is being floated for NBC TV time."

Find out what's happening in Hunt Valley-Cockeysvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In March after Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and scaled back operations, including closing casinos and race tracks to encourage people not to gather, he announced he was in discussions with the Stronach Group, which owns Pimlico Race Course, about postponing the Preakness to sometime in September.

"The Stronach Group/The Maryland Jockey Club is aware of speculation about a potential date for the Preakness 145," the organization said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. "At this point in time, there is no definitive date set and we continue to explore options. Once a date for Preakness 145 has been finalized, an official announcement will be made."

Rather than teeming with horses and jockeys as spring arrived, Pimlico Race Course drew health care workers, National Guard members and those concerned they were sick; the property transformed into a coronavirus testing site starting April 10 for those in northwest Baltimore, where the 21215 ZIP code is a hot spot for the new coronavirus.

This is a developing story and will be updated. Get Patch news alerts.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Hunt Valley-Cockeysville