Admission To Preakness At Laurel Will Be Limited To 4,800

[Wandering Eyes]

With the GI Preakness moving to Laurel for this year's running, attendance will be limited to just 4,800 patrons, according to a spokesperson for 1/ST Racing.

The story was first reported by Matt Hegarty in the Daily Racing Form, who provided 1/ST with a list of questions regarding this year's race.

Though 1/ST had turned over Laurel and Pimlico to a quasi- public organization now running racing in Maryland, 1/ST maintained the rights to the 2026 Preakness.

Over the two days that encompass the GII Black-Eyed Susan and the Preakness, the estimated attendance in 2025 was 63,000. Many of the Preakness attendees traditionally spend their afternoon in the infield. But Laurel is not equipped to handle a crowd that large and is also undergoing renovations as it converts to a year-round training center.

The race will be run this year at Laurel while construction is ongoing at Pimlico. The middle jewel of the Triple Crown is slated to return to Pimlico in 2027.

The 4,800 tickets will cover the two-day event, starting with the May 15 Black-Eyed Susan card. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday and can be purchased at www.preakness.com.

Tickets will range in price from $246 for general admission to $1,698 for the Turfside Terrace. A total of 1,000 general admission tickets will be made available to the public. 1/ST will also offer “luxury suite experiences.” The price for the luxury suites was not revealed.

Hospitality options will include temporary facilities along the rail from the finish line to the final turn offering VIP experiences, curated food and beverage and premium track views.

In response to questions Hegarty posed to 1/ST, the company pitched that a Preakness at Laurel will be a historic event.

“Preakness 151 weekend will offer the opportunity for horsemen and women, racing fans and guests to experience the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park for the first-time in the history of the event,” the 1/ST spokesperson wrote. “1/ST, in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, will curate a day of world-class racing, hospitality and entertainment in consideration of Laurel Park's layout. Preakness 151 will feature added Luxury Suites, a replica Turfside Terrace and the build out of the highly coveted Finish Line Suites, adding distinct experiences from other race days held at Laurel Park.

“1/ST, in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, looks forward to continuing the tradition of the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park while the long-term, state-led redevelopment of Pimlico Race Course is underway. We are committed to providing Preakness 151 guests with a thoughtfully planned experience and will make investments into the event that takes into consideration Laurel Park's footprint, capacity and available amenities.”

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