Preakness Stakes: No spectators will be allowed

The rescheduled Preakness Stakes at Baltimore Race Course on Oct. 3 will be run spectator-free, the track’s parent company confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

The Preakness, which will be the third leg of the Triple Crown this year, anchors the third of three live racing days scheduled for Pimlico Oct. 1-3. With the announcement that the event will be held without spectators, all three Triple Crown races this year will take place without any fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“While we had hoped to be able to welcome fans as we have for the past 145 years, the health and safety of our guests, horsemen, riders, team members, and the community at large is, and will always be, our top priority,” said Belinda Stronach, the chairman of Pimlico’s parent company, The Stronach Group, in a release.

Only “essential racing personnel and horsemen” will be permitted at the track on Preakness day, the release said. The decision was made in consultation with local and state health and government officials, according to the release.

On Wednesday morning, prior to the announcement, the president of Pimlico and its sister track, Laurel Park, Sal Sinatra, said that the track had been going forward as if no spectators would be allowed, despite a recent announcement by Gov. Larry Hogan allowing several types of businesses to re-open as of Friday at limited capacity, including movie theaters and small concert venues.

“He told us last week that there should be no spectators for the Preakness,” Sinatra said. “We’re still grouped as an arena.”

Sinatra said that he does not know if owners will be allowed on the grounds for the Preakness, despite owners being allowed on the track apron at Laurel Park since early June.

“We’re still trying to work that out,” Sinatra said. “I’ve been on a lot of phone calls with other tracks about how they are handling it, and hopefully we will have something to say soon.”