140,327 people voted with their feet at this year’s Preakness.

A record crowd demonstrated its support for keeping the race where it belongs – Pimlico Race Track.

In the months ahead, I will continue to work with state and local government officials, the Maryland Jockey Club, and all of the neighborhoods that surround the track to achieve that objective.

The next step is to have Phase Two of the Preakness study authorized by the Maryland Stadium Authority.

That study will estimate the cost of building a new seating facility and propose ways to finance it with a public-private partnership.

For that analysis to be completed by year’s end – in time for the Governor and the General Assembly to resolve this issue next winter, the Stadium Authority must act now and determine the scope of the study.

Governor Hogan has expressed his support for keeping the Preakness in Baltimore.

Mayor Pugh has made very clear her commitment to investing in the neighborhoods near the track and keeping the race there.

The communities south of Pimlico want their residents to be hired for construction jobs if the facility is rebuilt.

All of the track’s neighbors look forward to discussing with the track owners and elected officials possible uses that would keep Pimlico viable.

Unlike the Baltimore Colts, the Preakness cannot be moved in the middle of the night.  Maryland law requires that the race be run at Pimlico.

The Maryland Jockey Club would have to pass a bill to do away with that provision.

Those of us who want to keep the Preakness at Pimlico must also pass a bill – to finance the site’s modernization.

We should stop kicking the can down the road about the future of Pimlico Race Track and its neighbors.  We need to make an informed decision in Annapolis next winter.