|
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
|
BALTIMORE, 04-11-08---Live racing shifts to historic Pimlico Race Course next Thursday for the spring meeting. The headline event of the eight-week stand is the 133rd running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (Grade I), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, on May 17.
“You get a special feeling at Pimlico,” said Chris Dragone, Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager. “It is a unique, storied track with a deep tradition as the second oldest racetrack in the country. We are excited about the potential of the meet highlighted by one of the premier races in our industry.”
The marquee meet of the Maryland racing season will feature 27 stakes races for purses of $3.465 million. Sixteen of the added-money races, including all nine of the graded stakes for the meet, are slated for Preakness week, including 10 on Preakness Day.
The Grade I Pimlico Special returns after a one-year hiatus and will be held on May 16, the same day as the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan and four other added money races. The Pimlico Special is the second most prestigious race on the Maryland racing calendar, trailing only the Preakness, and is one of only three Grade I races, along with the Preakness and the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, annually run in Maryland. The 1938 running played host to one of America’s most historic moments when Seabiscuit upset War Admiral in the famed match race. The long-awaited winner-take-all showdown was named “Race of the Century” by Sports Illustrated in 1999 and forever immortalized in the movie Seabiscuit in 2003.
“We are thrilled the Special is back as part of Preakness week,” added Dragone. “When you couple the Pimlico Special and Black-Eyed Susan on Friday afternoon with the Preakness and Grade II Dixie Handicap on the Saturday card it makes for a terrific weekend of racing.”
Opening day attractions include free admission, a complimentary live racing program, concession specials at the new Laughing Horse Café and Black-Eyed Susan Bar and a chance to win one of five Charm City prize packs. The card will be highlighted by the $50,000 Star de Naskra Stakes for Maryland-breds.
The opening Saturday of the spring stand will include four added money races, including the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes and a free Pimlico sports cap to the first 4,000 fans in attendance. The Tesio, which will be televised live on ESPN, has been a Preakness prep for such standouts as Deputed Testamony (1983), Oliver’s Twist (1995) and Magic Weisner (2002).
“We are excited about opening day and next weekend’s card,” Dragone said. “Springtime at Pimlico means good racing with a special atmosphere.”
The meet will conclude on Saturday, June 7, racing on a Thursday through Sunday schedule.
First post for 27 days of the meeting will be 1:10 p.m. with adjustments on Preakness (10:30 a.m.), Pimlico Special-Black-Eyed Susan (12:15 p.m.), Kentucky Derby (12:45 p.m.) and Belmont Stakes (12:45 p.m.) days.
The current Laurel Park winter meeting concludes its 15-week run Sunday.
-MJC-