The People Behind Preakness, continued...
cial and all the pony riders know that the whole world is watching. “We get ourselves all dolled up and our ponies get to wear the new saddle cloths. Some even braid their horses and put glitter on their hooves. Its like a fancy day at the offi ce.” Przybyla also talked about the mo- mentum leading up to the Preakness Stakes. “It’s like organized mayhem. T ings get bigger and bigger and the crowds get more and more into it. T en after it is all over we sit around thinking ‘thank god it is only one day of the year!’” she said, laughing.
Bob Vinci – Detective & Willie Coleman – Security Consultant
With well over 100,000 people descending on Pimlico for Preakness day, it takes a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination to make sure every person and every horse are where they need to be, and not where they shouldn’t be. Taking
care of the security at Pimlico falls on Security Consultant Willie Coleman and Detective Bob Vinci. Vinci joined the MJC team in 1998 after 29 years with the Police Department. “T is was a good opportunity for me to get into the private sector,” he explained. Vinci fl oats back and forth between Laurel and Pimlico but once the Woodlawn Vase arrives at Pimlico, he sticks around. Tiff any and Company crafted the Woodlawn Vase in 1860 as a trophy for the now defunct Woodlawn
Racing Association. Now the trophy, which is valued at $1 million, is presented each year to the winning Preakness owner. T e trophy is housed at the Baltimore Museum of Art and brought to Pimlico sometime during the week leading up to the Preakness Stakes. “Once the trophy is here, it is watched over
by armed guards at all times,” Vinci stated. “On Preakness day, it is a military honor guard that delivers it to the winner’s circle for all the photographs and such.” During Preakness week, the Woodlawn Vase becomes a celebrity of sorts, making appearances at key events including the annual Alibi Breakfast. Coleman has been working for MJC since
1987, making sure that the security needs in and around the track are met. From getting the public safely in and out of Pimlico on race day to patrolling the grounds, Coleman over- sees a lot of people. “We go from about 1,500 spectators on a regular racing day to more than 100,000 on Preakness day,” explained Coleman. “More security is needed as it gets closer to race day and the Preakness horses begin to arrive.” Both men agree that the best thing about
Preakness is the people. T e horsemen, the staff , the spectators, the press….all make for a week of pageantry celebrating the sport of racing here in Maryland. “It really is the ‘People’s Party.’ People are having fun but understand there is a security presence,” Vinci said.
Coleman
added with a smile, “You just have to be here to truly understand the atmosphere. I don’t think I can really describe it.
Heading to Black-Eyed Susan or Preakness Day? Send your photos to
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Hundreds of people all cheering and having a good time.”
Jim McCue – Track Photographer As Preakness day gets closer, things at Pimlico
“get pretty electric” according to Maryland Jockey Club track photographer Jim McCue who is tasked with recording that electricity in photos. “My main job is to take all the publicity photos for our website and the media but I also take the winner’s circle photos for the trainers,” he explained. Although McCue grew up around the track and his parents were owners and trainers, he did not start shooting for MJC until 1970. Before that, he was a U.S. Army photographer. “Race photography is a lot diff erent from shooting landscapes,” McCue said. “As with any skill, you just need to get out there and keep practicing to get better and more profi cient.” Unlike taking photos in a studio,
track
photographers have no control over lighting, weather,
or the
horses and people they are shooting. “Practice, practice, practice. T at is really the best tip I can give.”
COLUMBIA HORSE CENTER
DRESSAGE April 6
Judge: Betty Thorpe (r) Opening date: 3/1/14 Closing date: 3/31/14
May 11
Judge: Evelyn Pfoutz (L) Opening date: 4/14/14
Closing date: 5/5/14
Judge: Angi Voss (L) Opening date: 05/12/14 Closing date: 6/2/14
June 8
10400 Gorman Rd Laurel, MD
www.columbiahorsecenter.com 301-776-5850
38 | THE EQUIERY | MAY 2014
SPRING 2014 SCHOOLING SERIES
SHOW
MARCH 23 APRIL 12
MAY 4 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
HUNTER/ JUMPER
882528-140314
Jim McCue/The Maryland Jockey Club
Katherine O. Rizzo
884679-140514
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