More than just a good old day at the races, Rachel Alexander, the Philly won the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland. In a great story of a lady winning against a field of gentlemen, surely Rachel Alexander’s win must be to the delight of at least half the fan base. Further congratulations are due jockey Calvin Borel trainer Steve Asmussen. As the equine competitors with their human passengers broke into the back straightaway, it was obvious one young lady was having the time of her life having an entire field of boys chasing her quest for the most honored racer of the day.
Sadly after the 135th running of the second jewel of the Triple Crown, its history, at least as Maryland’s biggest sporting event, is in question. Pimlico is an old track needing substantial renovation and repair to be worthy of a major sports venue while its ownership group has filed for bankruptcy. This historic track is also held victim to urban blight as the southwestern corner of the facility borders on one of the most dangerous drug and gang infested ghettos in Baltimore, a city that boasts the marvels of the Inner Harbor area with trendy locales, a modern downtown business district, a marvelous waterfront, and two of the nation’s finest stadia, Orioles Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. Move toward Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the nation’s top medical research facilities or up toward Pimlico, the worst of inner city decay haunts a proud city with open air drug trade, gang activities, and the likelihood of another shooting victim on any given night.
Against that backdrop, what would it take to make Pimlico a proud sports facility once again? This could be especially tough during the current economic crisis. Savvy investors could surely sink the money into modernizing the track into a world class race course, but what of its surroundings? Can Pimlico become a site where fans would feel safe to drive and maybe find a comfy spot after the race for a bite to eat and a couple drinks?
The track has already explored the possibilities of other uses for the track hosting a rock music festival the past couple of summers bringing headliners as big as Bob Dylan. Another possibility that must be considered, if the track can be brought up to standards at its present location, could a one mile track be erected somewhere else in the Baltimore area? There was once talk of a NASCAR track in White Marsh, south of M&T Bank Stadium, and near Arundel Mills. Moving to Laurel Park would keep the event in Maryland, but it is not a first class track and is also considered to be more of a Washington area venue.
We want the Preakness to survive as one of Maryland’s greatest traditions and a first tier national sports attractions. Naturally, the next question is, at what cost? Considering the revenue major sports events and a steady stream of fans for other events can rise, the economic impact could be huge. We hope the state’s bean counters consider that possibility carefully.
Sadly after the 135th running of the second jewel of the Triple Crown, its history, at least as Maryland’s biggest sporting event, is in question. Pimlico is an old track needing substantial renovation and repair to be worthy of a major sports venue while its ownership group has filed for bankruptcy. This historic track is also held victim to urban blight as the southwestern corner of the facility borders on one of the most dangerous drug and gang infested ghettos in Baltimore, a city that boasts the marvels of the Inner Harbor area with trendy locales, a modern downtown business district, a marvelous waterfront, and two of the nation’s finest stadia, Orioles Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. Move toward Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the nation’s top medical research facilities or up toward Pimlico, the worst of inner city decay haunts a proud city with open air drug trade, gang activities, and the likelihood of another shooting victim on any given night.
Against that backdrop, what would it take to make Pimlico a proud sports facility once again? This could be especially tough during the current economic crisis. Savvy investors could surely sink the money into modernizing the track into a world class race course, but what of its surroundings? Can Pimlico become a site where fans would feel safe to drive and maybe find a comfy spot after the race for a bite to eat and a couple drinks?
The track has already explored the possibilities of other uses for the track hosting a rock music festival the past couple of summers bringing headliners as big as Bob Dylan. Another possibility that must be considered, if the track can be brought up to standards at its present location, could a one mile track be erected somewhere else in the Baltimore area? There was once talk of a NASCAR track in White Marsh, south of M&T Bank Stadium, and near Arundel Mills. Moving to Laurel Park would keep the event in Maryland, but it is not a first class track and is also considered to be more of a Washington area venue.
We want the Preakness to survive as one of Maryland’s greatest traditions and a first tier national sports attractions. Naturally, the next question is, at what cost? Considering the revenue major sports events and a steady stream of fans for other events can rise, the economic impact could be huge. We hope the state’s bean counters consider that possibility carefully.
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