Preakness

[Edko]

I wanted to get a non Baltimore perspective...Any of you who watched The Preakness this year, did you notice a lack of infield crowd? It is estimated that the attendance was down roughly 30K or more this year. For the first time ever, the race management did not allow BYOB in the infield, and apparently this sparked alot of protest...and people just didn't show up.

Anyway, there were a few overhead shots during the national coverage, just wanted to see if others noticed what we in the area did. I won't get into the ban and it's pro's/con's as I hate arguments that have no clear winner Just curious if it made a visual impact on anyone.

Maybe horse racing is just dying? Do people care about the triple crown like they used to?

Thanks for reading!

Edit: That Filly was really, really fast

 

[JB]

Re: Preakness

Grew up in horse country. Always cared about equestrian competitions and racing. Still do.

Never cared much for crowds or all the posturing that goes on around racing.

If I had noticed I wouldn't have cared.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Preakness

Watched it on tv and they did mention about the lack of a crowd on the infield since they banned alcohol.
I don't know squat about raceing and didn't have a cent on the race but I thought it was a great race from my personal view point.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Preakness

I wonder if the track still made more money on increased alchol sales, or if they lost money from less ticket sales.

The only reason anyone likes horse racing is because of gambling, and MD does not have slots, which is my pilmico is dead.

And preakness is just a party, and the people in the infield could care less about horses, it is just like going to a concert for the party, not the music.

I didn't see one second of the coverage, but heard today the lost about 30k in attendance, and tickets were 50 bucks a pop.

Horse racing has always been just a side bet for a gambler, and will never be anything more. I think it has been romanticized because of its long history, but it has always been that way. It was never a noble sport. People gambled just as much in the 1870's as they do now. We tend to think people were saints back then.

 

[JB]

Re: Preakness

Spoken like a true cynic, bowman.

You seem to have some understanding of some "spectators", but zero of horse people.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Preakness

I've lived in MD my whole life, where Horse racing is supposed to be big. I never cared about it at all.

All I am saying is think about how it got started.

I bet someone was watching 2 people ride horses, and they said, "I bet you that horse is faster than this horse" and someone else said, "your on"
The sport is centered around gambling, kinda like **** fighting. What percent of people go watch a race, and don't place a bet? maybe 5% of the crowd?

people watch baseball because they enjoy the game, but people don't watch horse racing purely for the enjoyment of watching the race, more like the ejoyment of winning money.

I'm not saying gambling is bad, but let's call it what it is, less of a sport, and more of a gambling game. But really i think gambling should be legal everywhere. No slots at a race track, and you will lose fans, that is the bottom line.

 

[Edko]

Re: Preakness

I guess since I'm up in the "Horse Country" part of MD, I have a slightly different take on the industry. I appreciate it as a sport from the point of view of the breeders, jockeys, and the like. Yes, it is a sport centered around gambling, and gambling frankly keeps it afloat. Really, that has not changed since the first track was built.

Do I see it as a sport in trouble, much like boxing? Yes, sadly. And believe me B, there's a lot of money tied up in the horse industry in this state. And, you are right in that this State's racing industry is and will continue to suffer without the added attractions other gambling opportunities offer. Horse racing is not a sport (or gambling activity, if you prefer) for the young. Go to a track on any random weekday and you will see sparse crowds of folks much older than I am. Winning consistently requires intimate knowledge and study (much like fishing!). Many of us in the under 40 crowd just never got that kind of initiation and involvement to care, sadly.

So yeah, every year the triple crown comes and goes, and people get interested for a month or so. Then it goes away. I don't know if the Preakness will even be held at Pimlico within a few years, and unless they can market it better. It is a great and honored tradition, but also very apparent that without the party, people won't go.

 

[JB]

Re: Preakness

Well, perhaps MD horse people and flat racers are gambling driven.

That is a different culture than the horse culture I grew up with in the NC Sandhills where gymkana, fox hunting and steeplechase are amatuer events.

Your propensity for "only" and "every" put downs on horse people are insulting and obviously come from thinking your low opinions of MD flat horseracing fans are valid and applicable everywhere.

 

[Edko]

Re: Preakness

Horse industry in MD is a bit more diverse than oval track racing. We have Hunt Cup (Steeplechase) for example, and Jousting is the state sport.

I probably phrased things wrong if my words came off as insulting. Industry people work their butts off, and care passionately for their sport and their animals.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Preakness

Yes, horse people work their butts off, and they care a lot about the heart of the sport, and they could care less about gambling. But less than 1% of the state falls into this category.
The general public could care less about horse racing. They just want to gamble, or they just want a party (in the case of the preakness).

Even look at NASCAR, I don't care much for that either, but I would go to the infield of a race for the party. At least NASCAR lasts for longer than 2 minutes.

The only way to have a thriving horse track is to have a casino there, with at least slots there, and preferably table games too.

I read that only 5 States can have table games, because they were grandfathered in before a national ban on gambling. Seems silly that Delaware can have sports betting just because, and we can not. Gambling should be legal everywhere.