The 'Pimlico Special' is an
American Grade I thoroughbred horse race held at
Pimlico Race Course in
Baltimore, Maryland, home to the
Triple Crown race, the
Preakness Stakes. Like the Preakness, the Pimlico Special is run at the distance of 1 3/16 miles over the dirt. The race currently offers a purse of $500,000 and is mainly for horses age four and up although three-year-olds are permitted. The race is a
Grade I stakes event. Discontinued after 1958, the race was revived as a handicap event in 1988 and made a
graded stakes race in 1990.
The Pimlico Special was first run in 1937 and was won by
War Admiral who went on to be voted the
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. In 1938, the Pimlico Special was host to one of American racing's most historic moments when
Seabiscuit defeated
War Admiral in a much anticipated
match race.
The Pimlico track record for 1 3 /16 miles is held by
Farma Way who ran the distance in 1:52 1 /5 while capturing the 1991 Pimlico Special.
The Maryland Jockey Club announced that they would not run the Pimlico Special in 2007. The Jockey Club will spread the $500,000 purse among other races in an effort to keep the purse money from going to out of state owners.
Winners of the Pimlico Special
★ For 3-yr-olds in 1937 and 1954
★ Walkovers in 1942 and 1948
References
★
Official website for the Pimlico Special