Operations at historic Pimlico Race Course will cease on Sept. 1, one more step in a plan to overhaul the racetrack and turn it into the year-round home of thoroughbred racing in Maryland.

Live racing is scheduled exclusively at Laurel Park for the rest of 2024, and by the start of next month, all horses and training activity will have moved there, too. Pimlico will also close to simulcast wagering.

As this chapter of Pimlico — a site for horse racing that dates to 1870 — comes to a close, the Maryland Jockey Club is inviting fans to the Northwest Baltimore track on Sunday for Fan Appreciation Day to share their memories and take home some free memorabilia. The event runs noon-3:30 p.m.

All attendees will receive a Preakness Stakes souvenir glass and have the opportunity to grab other merchandise, such as T-shirts and baseball caps, while supplies last. Space is limited, so fans are encouraged to RSVP using this form.

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“Your unwavering support has been the backbone of Maryland racing at Pimlico,” organizers wrote on the event page. “Your enthusiasm, dedication, and love for the sport have pushed us to deliver a racing program that is truly first class. As we prepare for new beginnings, we want to express our deepest gratitude to you, our incredible community.”

The state of Maryland took control of the track in early July, months after the legislature approved a plan called “Pimlico Plus” that will see the historic track razed and replaced with a smaller, modern grandstand and a new racing surface. A new state-run nonprofit structured similarly to the New York Racing Association is set to take over racing operations in Maryland by the start of 2025.

Preakness will return to Baltimore on the third Saturday in May for the 150th running, then move to Laurel Park while the Northwest Baltimore site is cleared and the new track is constructed. The middle jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown is expected to return by 2027.

The Stronach Group, which sold Pimlico to the state for $1, will continue to hold the rights to run the Preakness and lease them to the state for an annual $3 million fee plus 2% of the gross betting handle for the weekend.

Once completed, the new Pimlico will serve as the primary home of live racing in the state and Laurel Park will close.