BALTIMORE, Md. — Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young filed a line of withdrawal dismissing without prejudice the lawsuit filed against the Maryland Jockey Club, The Stronach Group and others in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.
In March, the City asked a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge to grant ownership of Pimlico Race Course and the Preakness to the city through condemnation. The city also petitioned the court to block the Maryland Economic Development Corporation from issuing any bonds to the Stronach Group which could help fund improvements to Laurel Park, one of the group's other properties for which they hope to have host Preakness in the future.
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According to the City, the parties involved discussed the resumption of negotiations involving ways to revitalize, renovate and/or redevelop Pimlico and other thoroughbred racing facilities.
Mayor Young said in part that the city is committed to keeping the Preakness in Baltimore and is pleased to have reached the withdrawal agreement.
I look forward to working with the Maryland Jockey Club and The Stronach Group on good faith negotiations toward a positive outcome for the Park Heights community and the City of Baltimore," Young said.
Chairman for the Stronach Group, Belinda Stronach said the company looks forward to working with Mayor Young, the state and other stakeholders involved.
In May, the Stronach Group demanded that the lawsuit be dropped, alleging that the lawsuit was "devoid" of a legal basis on the grounds that only the State of Maryland "has exclusive authority over all aspects of racing, including as to eminent domain actions, which entirely preempts the condemnation counts in the City Action."
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Attorney for Maryland Jockey Club and the Preakness Stakes, Alan M. Rifkin says in the coming days they will continue the dialogue with the City to arrange for discussions to be made.
