| Horse Racing is a sport that has been around for | | | | three main contributors to the idea were Milton H. |
| centuries and has a very rich history of tradition | | | | Sanford, John Hunter, and Oden Bowie (who was |
| and culture. One of the factors that has made it | | | | the Maryland Governor at the time). They came |
| this way is the race tracks themselves and what | | | | up with the idea to have a two-mile stakes horse |
| they bring to the sport. One of the most well | | | | be held in the latter part of the year and to race |
| known race tracks in America is the Pimlico Race | | | | third year colts. They agreed on an initial purse |
| Track, found in Baltimore, Maryland. The Pimlico | | | | of $15,000 and began the construction of the |
| track is known as a thoroughbred track and is | | | | course. |
| one of the most respected venues in all of North | | | | As the race track was being constructed it was |
| America. It is found on a 140-acre area of land | | | | soon purchase by the Maryland Jockey Club and |
| and is usually open for live racing from early | | | | given the name "Pimlico" which is comes from the |
| March to about October with breaks in-between. | | | | name of the first English settlers to arrive in that |
| One of the reasons it has become so famous is | | | | area. The whole track took up about 70 acres |
| because it is the host of one of the Triple Crown | | | | and was completed in time for the 1870 dinner |
| Races, namely the Preakness Stakes. | | | | party. The horse that won that race was |
| The Preakness Stakes is not the only event that | | | | named "Preakness" and thus the Preakness |
| is held here, however, and it is actually the home | | | | Stakes was born. |
| of a variety of other stakes events including The | | | | Ever since then, this track has been a renowned |
| Maryland Juvenile Championship, the Rollicking | | | | course and has seen the likes of the horse |
| Stakes, the Challedon Stakes, and The Maryland | | | | Seabiscuit among others. The track was most |
| Million among others. It is the second oldest | | | | recently handled by the Magna Entertainment |
| track in the United States is still highly regarded in | | | | Corp who went bankrupt last year. Up until this |
| the sport of horse racing. The only complex | | | | point, however, the track has seen a multitude of |
| older than Pimlico is Saratoga, which only opened | | | | different things through its course. There have |
| six years before Pimlico did. | | | | been wars fought nearby, riots, fires, recession |
| Pimlico officially opened on October 25, 1870, but | | | | and much more that have all affected the track in |
| the plans to create it go back to 1868 where a | | | | one way or another. All of these different |
| group of businessmen came together and decided | | | | events add to that rich history that make Pimlico |
| to have a large race in commemoration of a | | | | what it is today and future events will only add to |
| special dinner party. This is where the idea of | | | | that culture that has made it so famous. |
| the track was formed and first carried out. The | | | | |