The Preakness: Will you miss it?
Every Thursday in the Toy Department brings another installment of "From the Editor's Desk," a weekly dispatch from Tim Wheatley. To ask him questions, register complaints or recommend raises for the Toy Department staff, email him at tim.wheatley@baltsun.com. For previous installments of "From the Editor's Desk," click here.
The Preakness, Baltimore's highest-attended, one-day sporting event, is three weeks away. As we begin our preparations for the race, I can't help but wonder if people would miss it if it left town like the Colts. It is a possibility with Magna's bankruptcy, the demise of horse racing in general and the economic factors affecting every business.
Do I think it will happen? No. The Preakness has the tradition, the track record of delivering 100,000-plus spectators, and who's going to bid on something like that in this economy?
But I don't think people will miss it, either. We're three weeks away and there is no buzz. People are talking about the Ravens, the NFL Draft, the Orioles and even Maryland basketball. This will be my fourth Preakness and I know that even as it gets closer there's not much buzz.
It's a one-hit, one-day, two-minute wonder. The majority of the people go for several reasons: It's the place to be in Baltimore on the third Saturday in May, the drinking, the people watching and the hope that they can win a little money (not likely for once-a-year bettors).
Oh, and did I mention the drinking? It'll be interesting to see if the ban on bringing in alcohol supports my theory. I bet attendance will be down significantly.
Then there's the hard-core gamblers. The true horse racing fans? Hard to find. And even then, most of them have some type of connection to the horses or the industry in Maryland.
What do you think? If the Preakness leaves town, will you miss it? Will we still be talking about it 25 years later like we do the Colts? Leave your comments below.
Baltimore Sun photo by Monica Lopossay
Comments
Isn't the Preakness on Saturday?
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Oops. Thanks. We've fixed...
Posted by: DB | April 23, 2009 3:43 PM
No
Posted by: RayRay | April 23, 2009 3:43 PM
Yes - the Preakness is a Maryland tradition! Not only do I want to see it remain at Pimlico, I'd love to see it restored to something to be proud of, instead of the drunk fest it has become. You don't see anyone drunnk and running along the top of porta potties at the Derby, but it's still well attended.
Posted by: a racing fan | April 23, 2009 3:48 PM
All my friends, who showed casual interest, ruled themselves out as soon as the BYOB policy was enacted. The horrendous concert planned also is going to attract lots of interesting clientele.
Posted by: R.L. | April 23, 2009 4:06 PM
The place to be in Baltimore on the third Sunday in May is at home recovering from a hangover.
Contrary to what this post says, the place to be in Baltimore on the third SATURDAY in May is the Preakness.
Maybe if the facts were right in this post, I'd take it seriously ...
But to answer the question -- yes, I would miss the Preakness if it goes away. At 27 -- my father and I have attended 11 of the last 12 together as a tradition we've created over the last decade or so. We also make it to the track 4 or 5 times a year together, so it would be sad to see horse racing go.
However, I don't think the state should be throwing my tax dollars at it and declaring "eminent domain" when the tracks are clearly losing money and are being poorly managed.
Posted by: jason | April 23, 2009 4:47 PM
Ah, another Sun sports editor with no ties to Baltimore. How many errors could the sports editor have in a post about the Preakness?
The Preakness is a big deal, always will be a big deal, but no one is breaking down the Preakness Stakes. They never have. People go for the party just as they do at the Derby and Belmont.
There never is weeks worth of buzz, but you probably wouldn't know that because you are just another poser Baltimore sports know-it-all.
Posted by: Scott | April 23, 2009 5:00 PM
No. Horse racing is about as dead as boxing. Anyone who's been to the infield at Preakness over the last decade knows it's turned into a low-rent frat party. The Port-a-John races? Seriously? Take the ol' gal out back and put her down for good. Don't prolong the agony.
Posted by: BJK | April 23, 2009 6:01 PM
Ticket sales are down 12% for the Preakness. Lee Corrigan of Corrigan Sports Enterprises said drink sales will boost revenue even if ticket sales are down.
Sooooo let me get this straight. Lee Corrigan of Corrigan Sports Enterprises, which is organizing the infield event, says fans' alcohol-fueled partying in previous years has posed safety and public-relations issues.
So they ban bringing in your own alcohol to the infield because of safety issues BUT they really arent phased by the tickets sales being down because drink sales will boost revenue even if ticket sales are down?
Isnt he kinda banking on the "fans' alcohol-fueled partying" to make up the difference from lower ticket sales? The same "fans' alcohol-fueled partying" that made them ban people from bringing in their own beer.
They could care less about "safety and public-relations issues". What they care about is making revenue off of drink sales. Now they will get $3.50 a beer instead of the ZERO they were getting.
It's all about money. I wish sometimes when things like this come up that people would just be honest and say hey, we want to make more money.
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You are absolutely correct. It is all about the money and I'm sure they will make up the money. Concessions are a huge revenue-driver for all sports teams.
Tim Wheatley
Posted by: B | April 24, 2009 10:20 AM