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Churchill Downs to Acquire Preakness Stakes IP for $85M

The deal gives Churchill Downs control of the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan brands as Maryland continues to stage the races under license.

  • On Tuesday, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced it acquired the intellectual property for the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes from 1/ST Maryland LLC for $85 million.
  • Churchill Downs Incorporated will license these rights back to Maryland for an annual fee, consolidating control over the first two Triple Crown events under one operator.
  • The deal closes after the May 16 Preakness Stakes, which will be held at Laurel Park while Pimlico Race Course undergoes renovations expected to complete by next year.
  • This acquisition allows Churchill Downs Incorporated to determine media broadcast partners for the first two Triple Crown legs, potentially shifting the Preakness date to create a three-week gap from the Kentucky Derby.
  • Trainers and owners have increasingly opted to skip the Preakness in recent years, a trend the consolidation aims to address by aligning these historic races within the broader sports landscape.
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Lex18 NBC broke the news on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
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