
Timonium Fairgrounds - Timonium, MD
Posted by:
bluesnote
N 39° 26.666 W 076° 37.795
18S E 359746 N 4367364
The Timonium Fairgrounds includes the Timonium Race Track, which is part of the Maryland State Fair.
Waymark Code: WM177BY
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 12/28/2022
Views: 2
Taken from Wikipedia, "In the 1950s, growth in population and development in increasingly suburban Baltimore County flourished, and certain business interests wanted to purchase the fairgrounds site for industrial development. The majority stockholder of the Corporation for the M.S.F. & A.S. of B.C., which was now the Maryland Jockey Club (which also owned and operated the famous Pimlico Race Course in northwest Baltimore, and home to the Preakness Stakes - one of thoroughbred horse racing's "Triple Crown"), had agreed to sell. In the ensuing controversy, however, a group of agriculturists, business leaders, horsemen, and bankers formed the "Save the Maryland State Fair Committee." The Committee raised over $600,000 to purchase the fairgrounds, ensuring that The Maryland State Fair at Timonium would continue to be Maryland's premiere event at the end of each summer.
Another crisis was averted in the 1970s. The organized Maryland racing industry took steps to have the Fair's Thoroughbred racing competition dates transferred to other Maryland tracks in order to re-trench a declining audience, purses and media attention. Fair Directors recognized that such a move would threaten the survival of the Fair. The "Committee of Friends of the Maryland State Fair" was established to strengthen the cooperation between Maryland agriculture and horse breeding interests - a relationship that had been a tradition in the State since the mid-18th century. The Committee was successful in convincing the public and the state legislature in the Maryland General Assembly of the value in keeping Thoroughbred racing a part of the Fair. The Committee also prepared expansion plans for the Fair, which resulted in a $5 million grant from the State of Maryland for building, modernization, and year-round use of the fairgrounds.
One of the most famous horses to race at Timonium was the Maryland-bred colt Bee Bee Bee who competed and won here in the fall of 1971, then in May 1972 at Pimlico Race Course, won the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes.
Currently the racetrack hosts events during the fair, including the "Alma North Stakes" for fillies and mares and the Taking Risks Stakes."
Types of Races: Multiple Types
 Racing Season: From: 01/01/2022 To: 12/31/2022
 Year Opened: 09/09/1879
 Famous Races: Varies
 Racecourse Web Site: [Web Link]
 Additional Information: Not listed

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Visit Instructions:To post a Visit for a waymark in this category, you will need to physically visit the track described in the waymark. If possible a photo of yourself at the track should be included in your log. Feel free to post some photos of the races you attended and of the fine animals you've seen. Did you have a photo taken with a Jockey?
You do not need to enter the track or attend an event to post a visit. However a photo of you outside the track with some racecourse signage is requested.
If you would like, share a story about your visit. Did you bet at the track? How much did you win? How much did you lose?