Why Preakness Stakes is not taking place at Pimlico Race Course in 2026

Why Preakness Stakes is not taking place at Pimlico Race Course in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Pimlico Race Course, the home of the Preakness Stakes, has become the second of three major horse races to change location in the past three years.

Due to a major construction project, the outlook of Pimlico will change drastically. With hundreds of millions invested, the project will take over a year, and this year's race needed a change of scenery. This comes on the heels of the Belmont Park renovations, which began in 2024.

While the Belmont Stakes have undergone many location changes in the 19th and 20th centuries, Belmont Park had been the race course for over 50 years at that point. This makes Churchill Downs the only remaining location of the three majors to play host to every event of its kind for over 150 years. In an era of redevelopment and change, the Kentucky Derby remains remarkably consistent in its location.

Here's what to know about the location change for this year's Preakness Stakes, and when Pimlico may return. MORE : Complete list of all-time winners, records at Preakness Stakes Where is 2026 Preakness Race? The Preakness Stakes are taking place at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland.