Farewell to Laurel and Pimlico if......

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

As crappy as it gets in Maryland, I just don't see how they could ever move the Preakness somewhere else.

if i understand it, the state has the rights on the name "Preakness". the race can move but the name will change. after the colts fiasco, the state locked up the names associated with maryland.
who cares if maryland keeps the name Preakness, they better find a way to keep the tracks open to have a place to run a race.

[Merlinsky]

I figured the links don't mention Halsey Minor or folks would be talking about it so I didn't click on them, but I have read he wants to buy MEC assets if I remember correctly. Not Gulfstream because of Hialeah, but sounded like he had a good deal for them. Has that changed?

ETA: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ost-mec-assets
He would also keep racing at Golden Gate Fields.

Move the race to Philly Park and call it The Freakness.

[letswastemoney]

The Preakness wouldn't feel like the Preakness if it were held anywhere but Pimlico.

I mean it's part of the test to race it at Pimlico......

You take the standard test at Churchill Downs....

then you see if you can handle the sharper turns at Pimlico....

then you see if you can handle the longer turns at Belmont

It's tradition!!!!

[blackthroatedwind]

The only problem with that is the turns aren't actually sharper at Pimlico than they are at Churchill.

[ddthetide]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...,7822162.story

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The only problem with that is the turns aren't actually sharper at Pimlico than they are at Churchill.

good luck with that. some myths just won't die.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ddthetide

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...,7822162.story

i saw the other day that the state might use eminent domain in an effort to keep the track and the preakness. or at the very least, the preakness. of course you can't have a race without a venue to hold the race....should be interesting.

ironic tho that the state sat on its hands for years when everyone was screaming for help-and now they're suddenly in crisis mode.

[phystech]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i saw the other day that the state might use eminent domain in an effort to keep the track and the preakness. or at the very least, the preakness. of course you can't have a race without a venue to hold the race....should be interesting.

ironic tho that the state sat on its hands for years when everyone was screaming for help-and now they're suddenly in crisis mode.

Our fine legislature and Gov are now trying to shove the eminant domain issue through to not only acquire the Preakness but all of Magna's Maryland assets.

This is the same legislature that has spent the last 6 years crushing MD racing, and now they're going to "save" it by eminant domain in less than a week.

http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/s...596kzCtTA.cspx

It just gets more crazy by the minute......

[slotdirt]

It's one thing to lose Laurel and Pimlico; it's entirely another to lose the Preakness itself. I don't know this for fact, but I would have to imagine the Preakness is the single biggest economic event in Maryland during the course of any given year. If I were the state of Maryland, I'd sure as shootin' be using any means possible to keep the race in house.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

It's one thing to lose Laurel and Pimlico; it's entirely another to lose the Preakness itself. I don't know this for fact, but I would have to imagine the Preakness is the single biggest economic event in Maryland during the course of any given year. If I were the state of Maryland, I'd sure as shootin' be using any means possible to keep the race in house.

You know, if this was the Belmont Stakes in trouble at Belmont Park, instead of the Preakness at Pimlico, the lawmakers would see the event and the track as being inseparable. Amazing what's in a name. It enables them to think they can relocate the race with negligible impact -- in other words they are only concerned about the marketing.

Companies have been doing that for years. A Cadillac is what we say it is. Oh, well the Cadillac Cimmaron is not the same as a Chevy Cavalier even though 90% of the parts are the same and the Cimmaron costs twice as much to buy, or repair (since we know we can get it)...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

It's one thing to lose Laurel and Pimlico; it's entirely another to lose the Preakness itself. I don't know this for fact, but I would have to imagine the Preakness is the single biggest economic event in Maryland during the course of any given year. If I were the state of Maryland, I'd sure as shootin' be using any means possible to keep the race in house.

i don't know about that-it might be the biggest one day event, but i doubt that economically it would hurt that state a whole lot. maryland has a lot of other stuff going on, and going for it. but i think they should do whatever they can to save it. it's certainly one of the most prestigious events in maryland.

[slotdirt]

Maryland has other stuff going for it? Really?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Maryland has other stuff going for it? Really?

lol

tourism. baseball, football...

i haven't been there in years, but surely it still has it's strong points? i just meant that there is life in md other than on preakness day.

[slotdirt]

That's true, but can you imagine what the economic impact of taking the Derby out of Louisville would be? I don't suspect it would be much different in Baltimore.

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

It's one thing to lose Laurel and Pimlico; it's entirely another to lose the Preakness itself. I don't know this for fact, but I would have to imagine the Preakness is the single biggest economic event in Maryland during the course of any given year. If I were the state of Maryland, I'd sure as shootin' be using any means possible to keep the race in house.

i recently read that Pimlico's operating budget for the year is based on preakness week.
it will greatly hurt the city and county of baltimore and i'm sure trickle over to other places in the state. think of the amounts of tourism moneys, spent that week.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

That's true, but can you imagine what the economic impact of taking the Derby out of Louisville would be? I don't suspect it would be much different in Baltimore.

i'm sure there'd be an impact. a far greater impact would be the loss of laurel and pimlico. the far-reaching affects on horsemen and farms in the state would be disastrous.

[ddthetide]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/h...,3055166.story

[ddthetide]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/h...,4184368.story

[phystech]

Heard yesterday that due to the closing of barns over the winter, all the rats and pigeons have left Pimlico too......