The future of the Preakness at Pimlico, which has staged the second jewel in US flat racing’s Triple Crown since 1873, was in doubt after a Maryland racing commission vote.

The board has voted to reject a proposal by the owners of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park to conduct live racing next year. Unless an agreement is reached, neither track will hold thoroughbred races in 2011.

“It’s disappointing the parties involved could not reach an agreement,” Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said in a statement.

“We are prepared to aggressively protect the state’s interests, as we did two years ago when presented with the threat of losing Maryland’s treasured Preakness Stakes.

“We will continue to explore the legal options available to us.”

The tracks’ owners say they can’t make a profit hosting live racing without the big crowds such as those that attend the Preakness.

They proposed 146 days of live racing, but also asked horsemen to give up simulcasting revenue and make other concessions, proposals that were turned down.

On Monday, a proposal to run 78 live days was rejected 8-0 by the commission, jeopardising the future of racing in Maryland.

The Preakness is traditionally the second leg of the Triple Crown, run between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.