Pimlico Special Not Being Carded This Year

[Sightseek]

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=37253

[blackthroatedwind]

That's a shame but to be honest, while Invasor won it last year, it was hardly a race that should have had a $600K purse. It would be nice if they could maybe increase the purse of the Schaefer, I think that's the race run the next day, and maybe get a couple better horses.

[txshorns02]

This might help maryland get slots now...I live in PA so I'm not sure how far alone they are with talks about slots.

[blackthroatedwind]

I don't think the cancellation of the Pimlico Special will affect the slot debate.

[slotdirt]

I love how the MD Jockey Club does stuff like cancel big races as some sort of threat to the state legislature. What they don't realize is, like the folks who cancel the MassCap every year, people in Maryland just don't care about racing anymore. With a new administration up there, I doubt slots are foremost on their agenda.

Not surprised. Maryland horse racing is suffering with the politics off not allowing slots,ect... Charlestown and Delaware got the jump. I grew up a stone throws away from Laurel. Kent D and Prado, King T.Leatherbury days gone but not forgotten. Breeding is about all thats left?

[slotdirt]

There are only a few serious tb commercial farms left in Maryland. Not For Love has been a success, but aside from him, only Louis Quatorze made the top 100 sires list in 2006.

[estreetposse]

Originally Posted by txshorns02

This might help maryland get slots now...I live in PA so I'm not sure how far alone they are with talks about slots.

Charles Town is pretty much just a stones throw away, and every night they have tons of people from the DC-MD-VA metro area heading up there to play the slots. Plus Dover, Harrington, Delaware Park, now Philly are just 2-3 hour trip.

I like your optimism but I seriously doubt MD gets slots any time soon, if ever for that matter. The state has 3 “big” racing days (IMO) Black Eyed Susan, Preakness, and Maryland Million (maybe the DeFrancis Dash would be a 4th). Canceling one of the biggest races of year does not have me hopeful about the future of racing in the state of MD.

Hate to bring this up, but I also wouldn’t be in shock in Frank and the boys try to make another push to move the Preakness to another track


-bt-

[slotdirt]

Don't forget Penn National is probably no more than 60-70 miles from the Maryland border as well for those folks out towards York.

[boswd]

I think it's such a shame. The Pim Special has been historically one of the most prestigious races and now it gets thrown in the trash every few years.

[slotdirt]

Don't forget this is the race where some loony hopped over the rail and punched Artax during the race in 1999.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Don't forget this is the race where some loony hopped over the rail and punched Artax during the race in 1999.

No, that was the Sprint on Preakness Day. The Pim Special is at 1 3/16ths and lately has been run the day before.

[slotdirt]

You're right. I had thought it was a route, but that would have been incorrect. I'm all about being inaccurate today.

[Gander]

some loony hopped over the rail and punched Artax during the race in 1999.

That was the funniest thing I have ever seen in sports. Some guy did something very similar at Santa Anita one year.

[slotdirt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sl505ke7YQ

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sl505ke7YQ

Oh my goodness!

[Gander]

LOL! That punch reminds me of a drunk guy who went after me at a bar once.

[slotdirt]

I love how the guy just stands there after taking the swing like he is saying "oh, drat! I missed that Chop Chop guy!" I figure he would have tried to run.

[KirisClown]

Sorry to see it go, but one less option for the better horses out there is probably a good thing...

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Sorry to see it go, but one less option for the better horses out there is probably a good thing...

The thing is this just encourages everyone to wait even longer to start a top horse. There are now no two turn G1s on the dirt for older males on the east coast between the Donn on 2/3 and the Suburban on 6/30. That is doing nothing towards improving the quality of racing year round.