And they're off! #OTD in 1870, Pimlico Race Course officially opened its doors to the delight of race horsing enthusiasts. The idea for a racetrack in Baltimore began at a dinner party in 1868 where Maryland Governor Oden Bowie, businessman Milton H. Sanford, and prominent New Yorker John Hunter decided to run a race in two years commemorating the evening. Both the City of Saratoga and the American Jockey Club bid to hold the event, but Governor Bowie pledged to build a beautiful new racetrack if it were to be held in Baltimore. Constructed on 70 acres west of the Jones Falls by Baltimore architect General John Ellicott, “Pimlico” was the name initially given to the area by English settlers in the late 1600s. The track quickly earned the nickname “Old Hilltop” due to a slight rise in the infield, perfect for trainers and fans to gather and cheer on their favorites. The Preakness Stakes, first held three years later in 1873, takes its name from the colt who won the first race at the tr...