with new ownership coming hopefully in the near future there's no guarantee mr. chuckas will be president of the maryland jockey club after new ownership takes over. charging $60.00 for the infield is absurd to begin with. what the md. jockey club could have done was roped off some of the infield for "famlies" for didn't want to mix with the "other" crowd. but expecting anything that resembles good business sense or some thinking out of the box to cater to everyone would be asking a lot from a company tha that has shown they have no idea how to run a race track in maryland, florida, california or anywhere else...

after new ownership of the tracks becomes a reality there is no guarantee mr. chuckas will be pres. of the mjc. charging $60.00 for admittance to the infield with today's economy is absurd to begin with. they could have roped off some of the infield for "families" but i would think that would require some thought which magna isn't known for. bottom line pimlico and laurel have been mismanaged ever since frank defrancis died.

Redo that math, Dan. Without the underage drinkers, who get an older person to haul in the alcohol and then act like idiots, with no interest in the actual racing, the betting was higher, the infield grass is still there, and the cleanup was faster and cheaper. So, from the loss at the gate, there are a number of adjustments before you come up with a net that has any meaning for the bankruptcy. I think the infield will attract more people, better behaved people, and people who will spend more $$ in future years now that they need not fear being urinated or vomited upon by the young drunks who used to commandeer the infield.

Let's not forget about the additional costs of the bands, volleyball games, and whatever other nonsense was going on in the infield Saturday

Dan,

I respectfully disagree. Anyone who has attended the Preakness infield "party" in the last five years could tell you that it has absolutely gotten out of hand. Just ask the Baltimore Police Department and Siani Hospital. It was only a matter of time before a tragedy happened.
I believe tens of thousands of former attendees who have stopped going will return in the next few years. Something had to be done and I believe the appropriate action was taken

Dan...
I was at the Preakness Saturday.
It was my 35th Preakness.
Whole new animal.
The kids who go to the race to get drunk....are gone.
And so is their admission monies.

Here's a modest solution:

I have two to suggest.

One...provide a roped off beer garden outside in a parking area.
Either sell $2 beer inside or let people bring x amount in to the beer garden.
Price of beer doubles (or more) inside track.
(yes you would have to find parking elsewhere for some)
OR...

Allow TAILGATING.
It's pretty hard to make an argument banning tailgating when on Sat. and Sun. during football season millions of people do it safely.
Many Ravens fans live for it.
Yet...no tailgating at Maryland's premiere annual moment.
Maybe you can find out the logic behind the law Dan.
Happy summering.
Tim R

Check the racing site Bloodhorse.com for the Maryland Jockey Club's announcement of betting on Preakness day.

Here's the key snippet:
"While in-state wagering on the Preakness was up 7.4% to $2,961,617, in-state handle, which includes Pimlico on-track wagers, dropped 15.1% to $7,986,162."

So attendance was down, and overall betting on the day in Maryland was down 15%. Great job!