On Friday, Black Eyed Susan Day, the crowd at Pimlico set records for attendance and wagering.
Peter Schmuck, the Baltimore Sun sports columnist, was impressed by the Preakness Day numbers:
The announced attendance of 131,256 should remind everyone just how important the race is to the city of Baltimore and the record handle of $99,852,653 showed that the Derby controversy might have enhanced the attractiveness of the event — at least to the people that bet on the 14 races.
People voted with their feet and their wallets to keep the Preakness at Pimlico.
Politicians pay a lot of attention to polls. In this instance, they should.
These new records came about despite the closure of the grandstand, resulting in a loss of 7,000 seats. The engineers’ report that prompted this action is still being kept from the public.
After the turnout this weekend, it will be difficult for the Stronach interests to argue in the legislature or a court room that the dilapidated condition of Pimlico constitutes a disaster or an emergency, what’s required under state law to move the race.
After plumbing failed again in women’s bathrooms on Preakness Day, it will also be difficult for the track owners not to repair that problem before next May.
“I’ve said all along I’d rather see it stay here in Baltimore,” Governor Larry Hogan said on Saturday. “We’re certainly hopeful that cooler heads can prevail.”
He then said he was…hopeful that discussions could move forward despite the lingering legal fight between the two sides.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/preakness/bs-md-preakness-mainbar-20190518-story.html
I’m with Governor Hogan.
