The Maryland Jockey Club has canceled the Pimlico Special Handicap (G1) for the second time in six years, citing a lack of available purse money.

Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) won the most recent edition of the $500,000 race on May 19.

“Unfortunately, we have no choice,” said Lou Raffetto, president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club. “We have limited purse monies available, are facing increasing competition from growing slot-fueled purses in West Virginia and Delaware, and are about to face an entirely new wave of competition this year when Pennsylvania’s racetracks begin their slot operations.

“Under these circumstances, we must do everything we can to keep our average daily overnight purses for our local horsemen as high as possible and in order to do so must reallocate the dollars that would otherwise have been used to fund the purse for the Pimlico Special. Our first priority must be our local horsemen, who support our program on a daily basis throughout the year.”

The Pimlico Special also was not run between 1958 and 1988 and in 2002. Historical winners include War Admiral in 1937, Seabiscuit over War Admiral in a two-horse Pimlico Special in ’38, Whirlaway in '42, Assault in ’46, Citation in ’48, Tom Fool in '53, and Cigar in '95.

“This is terribly disappointing,” said Joe De Francis, chief executive officer of the Maryland Jockey Club and executive vice president of parent company Magna Entertainment Corp. “The history and tradition surrounding the Pimlico Special are absolutely priceless. It is especially unfortunate that circumstances are forcing us to take this action just days after Invasor, the winner of the 2006 Pimlico Special, was named Thoroughbred racing’s Horse of the Year for 2006.  We remain hopeful that the playing field between Maryland and our neighbors to the west, north and east will be leveled and that we will be able to resume running this important and prestigious race in the future.”