Preakness 'time bomb'
One-hundred-and-twenty-six people were ejected, Baltimore police made six arrests and Pimlico staffers made 17 calls for emergency medical treatment to the infield, but Marty Kwedar of Virginia, who says he's survived four Preaknesses, thinks things were a lot worse than reported. He also thinks the owners of the track are asking for big trouble -- allowing a "time bomb" to tick toward disaster without more security on the infield. "I'm a young guy," he says, "and like to mix it up in the infield like anyone else, but Saturday was simply a dangerous atmosphere. The worst part about it was that the security personnel did virtually nothing to stop the violence."
Here's a letter Kwedar wrote to Magna Entertainment:
The Preakness Stakes according to your own official program offers "Marylanders and visitors alike an unrivaled experience." As a person born and raised in Maryland, and currently living in Northern Virginia, I attended the Preakness Stakes this past Saturday as both a Marylander and a visitor. To my extreme and utter dismay, the experience at the Preakness could only have been rivaled by a prison riot at Jessup. As an attendee of multiple Preakness Saturdays, I understand that the infield at Pimlico is no place for haughty gentlemen or dainty ladies. The complete and total anarchy and felonious violence I witnessed on Saturday, however, went beyond the pale. The most disgusting things that happened on Saturday were not the actions of the denizens of the infield, rather it was the inaction, indifference, and willful negligence displayed by your staff. It is your legal and moral duty to safeguard your patrons, but through your carelessness or willfulness you allowed numerous people to be injured. Indeed, I was told by your own security supervisor in so many words that posse justice was in effect for the day in the infield.
I arrived at 9:00 a.m., the crowd was boisterous as expected and everyone was enjoying themselves. Along with my friends, I set up camp in between emergency exits 6 and 7. As could easily be predicted, around noontime the crowd (largely made up of what appeared to be intoxicated minors) began to feel their oats. Their idea of a good time was to throw beer cans, often full, into the huddled masses on your infield. The initial bursts ended relatively quickly, but another onslaught was clearly imminent. At this point, your security personnel made a series of unforgivable mistakes that, only by the grace of God, resulted in countless serious, but non-fatal injuries.
Had your staff acted quickly and made their presence known in the areas where the unmitigated hurling of dangerous missiles was occurring, perhaps the activity would have died down. Instead, your security staff did nothing. At any one time dozens of dangerous projectiles were flying through the air. Some cans contained little alcohol, others were unopened and full. Even a partially opened can could cause serious injury, a full beer can thrown with great force, however, is unquestionably a deadly weapon. As I stood in the infield in shock at the overwhelming deficiency of a security presence, I saw several of my own friends hit by these cans. The blunt force resulted in serious bruises, cuts, and other trauma.
At this point, at roughly 12:15, with the onset of unchecked deadly assault and battery in public, I felt that it was my duty as a citizen and an officer of the Maryland State Bar to try to stop the throwing because it was obvious that your personnel had no intentions of curtailing the potentially deadly acts passing before their eyes. To this end, my friends and I tried to tell the people around us to stop throwing cans because someone was going to get seriously injured. Our neighbors took our pleas for peace as some sort of battle cry and were intent on using force to silence our pleas for calm. After a half an hour of apparently hopeless negotiation with our fellow patrons, one of our neighbors charged at my party. Another neighboring group attempted to break up the physical fight that had begun. With no security to be seen, there was an open window for these animals next to us to maim anyone who got in their way.
As could be expected, within seconds of the start of the fight there was a serious injury. A man was knocked out cold with a metal crutch. After witnessing this umpteenth act of assault with a deadly weapon that day, I ran to find security personnel. I spoke with a young African American male roughly 5'8" tall with two gold capped teeth and a baseball cap (I identify him as such because I did not have the opportunity to get his name) working on your security staff. He was polite, but did not appreciate the urgency of the situation. I went back to the scene of the fight and saw that there was still violent unrest. I then ran back to the area where security personnel were located. I informed the security worker referenced above along with another security worker that someone had been seriously injured, and that there were individuals continuing violent acts. It was an extremely dangerous situation. I asked to speak to someone who could help us.
A supervisor was called over. His yellow staff shirt said "supervisor" on it. He was a large African American male, about 6'5" with a shaved head and a goatee. I told him that someone was knocked unconscious and that there was an imminently dangerous situation between emergency gates 6 and 7. The supervisor responded by telling me that the problem of the beer can throwing was my own fault because, he said 'You all are throwing these cans.' I explained that I was trying to stop people from throwing cans by trying to verbally reason with them. (Of course I was forced to do so because there was no security presence whatsoever). I further explained that we needed help or multiple people would be seriously injured.
The supervisor's response completely floored me. He told me that my friends and I should "knock out" the troublemakers, and only then security would come and take away the unconscious men, but would not arrest us. He said that he was not there to "baby sit us."
Fortunately, when I returned some of my friends had managed to quell the threat from our violent neighbors. Beer cans, however, continued to be thrown. I was hit twice, once in the right knee with a full beer can, aggravating a previous injury. It has left me limping around to this minute, and the full effects of the assault have not yet entirely been manifested. With no end in site, my friends and I tried to gather our things and leave before one of us was seriously harmed. As we were leaving, the can throwing began to die down. Only then did security personnel arrive at our area. It was too little too late. I had witnessed a score of people injured by the cans. Undoubtedly, hundreds more were injured. The overwhelming majority of these injuries could have been prevented if your security personnel made any attempt to stop the violence.
Saturday was truly a sad day for all of Maryland. It would be wise for your organization to address my concerns. I noticed that your dangerous failures were not reported in the media, and I feel it is important that local and national media outlets hear my story of your intolerable disregard for your own customers' safety and well-being.
Comments
I attended Preakness 3 of my 4 high school years and 1 year after high school. I have oft said, it is only a matter of time until someone 15 or 16 dies from alcohol abuse. I am SHOCKED that it has not happened yet. The story referrenced above is an annual event, anyone who thinks this year was different is fooling themselves. BTW, it has been 13 years since my last Preakness.
Posted by: Brad | May 19, 2008 7:58 AM
If you don't like the insane atmosphere in the Pimlico Infield, don't go, it's as simple as that. NOBODY is forced against their will to go into the infield. Everyone knows how crazy and idiotic it gets there. It's not like some new thing.
Posted by: steve | May 19, 2008 8:17 AM
Yes the atmosphere is insane in the infield. Yes the beer can throwing incidents were unnecessary and could have been stopped with more diligent action by the security staff. However, don't blame the security staff, instead blame track management. When you as a security guard are out numbered by a ratio of about 100-1 what are you supposed to do? We all know Pimlico makes a barge load of money on the Preakness. I say local lawmakers should require them to spend more on extra security. I worked the Preakness in 1977 and 1978. So I speak from experience.
Posted by: John | May 19, 2008 9:12 AM
I am shocked that you are shocked... by what you wrote I find it HARD to believe that you have ever gone to Preakness before this...
Posted by: Heather | May 19, 2008 9:21 AM
I'll cede that things were pretty raucous and a bit dangerous at times, however, your description of Fallujah in the inzone may be a bit of a stretch. My group moved toward the periphery near the bathrooms and betting stand to wait the "can wars" out. I disagree to an extent that security's response was inadequate. When you've got crowds of thousands throwing crap at each other, unless the drunk idiot standing immediately next to security throws something you've got a situation of the mob's word against the accused. Between the can's and the port-a-john gauntlet, i was truly amazed, but what can you expect from thousand's of drunk college students and recent grad's. It was a good time outside with somefriends. Just make sure you bring a helmet.
Posted by: Lee | May 19, 2008 9:48 AM
I appreciate your story. Personally, I would not even set foot in such an environment, let alone consider the possibility of going. I read an article along with some photos in a local paper the previous day and just shook my head. This event is a disaster, to say the least.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a beer or two now and then as much as the next guy or gal, but I will not do so in a menacing and threatening atmosphere such as the Preakness innfield. I am also surprised that no one has been killed as the result of violence and/or severe alcohol intoxication.
It's also really pathetic that a melee such as this is viewed by Magna as a virtual cash cow without the regard and lack of concern for the patrons.
While you did manage to leave and were able to get out without further harm, I am sorry that the security staff was basically oblivious to your concerns.
Posted by: Ted | May 19, 2008 1:44 PM
I think everyone makes pretty good points. All I'm getting at here is that from my experience at the Preakness things are steadily moving from rowdy and fun to out of control.
It's only a matter of time before something serious happens, and the fun parts of the infield experience are taken away with the dangerous parts.
If you want that to happen, keep on saying that the can throwing, and inadequate security measures are acceptable.
Posted by: Marty | May 19, 2008 2:42 PM
Eventually there will be a tragic death or deadly stampede. The BPD has stated in years past that they cannot assure public safety in the infield. They now have the National Guard working the Preakness. This is clearly heading toward a deadly and tragic ending that will create a national humiliation for Maryland. Elected officials: YOU HAVE SEEN THE WARNING SIGNS. Your failure to act will almost certainly lead to loss of life. The time to do something is NOW.
Posted by: Woody | May 19, 2008 10:40 PM
His first mistake was going to the infield unprepared.
His second mistake was trying to reason, well, with drunks.
The safety of the patrons? Please guy, those are the patrons. Every year same uncouth behavior. Its not a secret.
Personally, I think he is just looking for a lawsuit.
Posted by: Sunshine | May 20, 2008 3:02 AM
My son has gone for about three years now. He got hit with something on the back of the head (he doesn't know what it was, but it sounds like it was a full beer can) and had to go to the first aid tent. They advised him that he needed stitches. HE went later that night, and had to get 5 staples in the back of his head.
Once, many years ago, I went to the Preakness. I was amazed at the hedonistic behavior, but there wasn't any violence back then.
When violence is overtaking the Preakness, then Pimlico has a serious problem that needs to be addressed. It used to be lots and lots of somewhat rowdy drunks, but that is different from violent drunks.
Posted by: SR | May 20, 2008 5:08 PM
My husband and his friends attend the Kentucky Derby each year, however they were unable to go this year so they decided to go to the Preakness instead. They are a group of 30 to 40 year olds just looking to escape their wives and children and ended up being bombarded by beer cans and having to leave the race due to the immature acts by a bunch of amateur drunks. One of their friends was hit in the head by a full beer can and had to sit in the ER for more then 5 hours waiting for stiches. What a disgrace to horseracing and to all the people out there just looking to have a good time and watch the horses.
Posted by: PK | May 20, 2008 9:44 PM
Track ownership has known about this situation for years, but they just don't care. As long as the mayhem doesn't hit the national airwaves, the money rolls in and Pimlico--ramshackle dump that it is--looks wunnerful for a day. Now, if a drunk runs on the track during a race, well now THAT'S a problem...
Posted by: Biff Tubesock | May 20, 2008 11:40 PM
In each of the past five years, leading up to this year, I would host a group of my college friends who reside around the country for our annual trip to the Preakness Infield. After last year's event, I decided that it was time to relocate our group to the civilized world of the grandstand. There is no question that the majority of patrons who commit the senseless acts in the infield are "amateur drunks"; however, as Steve mentioned in his post above, you should know what a trip to the infield entails. If you do not like the element that is associated with the infield, try relocating your group somewhere else. I hate to say it, but Magna could really care less about your poetic prose... save it for the court room.
Posted by: Sobo Bob | May 21, 2008 12:06 AM
I'd been to the infield multiple times before. I'd seen the expected craziness, but never violence like that. Maybe others saw the same kind of violence in recent years. If that's the case, I'm surprised no one spoke up about it.
Ultimately, this is just another reason for Magna to move the Preakness out of Baltimore
Posted by: Marty | May 21, 2008 10:23 AM
There is a pretty simple solution to your beer throwing incident.....buy a grandstand ticket. I was at preakness and pretty upset about the throwing of beer cans, it honestly should have never happened. Having said that, I am proud to be from Maryland and proud to say that I am a consistent presence at the most insane day of drinking and debouchary on the planet. Underage drinking is a serious problem and the amount of alcohol consumed is often dangerous, but that problem lies in the hands of parents and individual drinkers. If you let your kid go to preakness, they will drink.......alot. And if you finish a thirty pack before they open the tunnel then chances are you will leave on a stretcher or in the back of a squad car. Be responsible, smart, prepared, and most of all......have an absolute blast because there is nowhere else on earth where you can act the way you can at Preakness.
Posted by: Jack Temple | May 25, 2008 6:53 PM