Report: Preakness 2026 attendance capped at 4,800
Attendance for Preakness Stakes 2026 on May 16 at Laurel Park will be capped at 4,800, according to a report by Daily Racing Form.
The limited number of tickets stems from ongoing renovations at Laurel as the facility prepares for its conversion into a year-round training center, DRF reports. The Preakness will run at Laurel this year because Pimlico, the race's traditional home, has been torn down and is being replaced by a more modern structure expected to host the race again in 2027.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday and will be sold exclusively as two-day packages covering the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) card on Friday, May 15, and the Preakness card on Saturday. Of the 4,800 available, 1,000 general admission tickets will cost $246 each. Other tiers include temporary facilities along the rail, luxury suites near the first turn and the grandstand simulcast area, according to DRF. Turfside Terrace packages carry a $1,698 price tag, though 1/ST did not disclose pricing for the luxury suites.
1/ST Racing, which retains the rights to the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes through this year, gave up its deed to Pimlico as part of a deal with the state and no longer oversees day-to-day racing operations in Maryland. After this year, the company will receive a licensing fee and a percentage of handle from both days. 1/ST declined to reveal how much it plans to spend on staging the event at Laurel.
The company said the attendance restrictions should not significantly affect accommodations for horsemen.