The Preakness: An American Classic, continued...
in 2004. Te Preakness, set at 1.5 miles for three-year-olds and up, had a $50 entry fee and $2,000 purse - today the purse is $1,500,000! An iconic sporting legend was born. Te horse who lent his name to what became the Middle Jewel of Toroughbred horse racing’s Triple Crown, and celebrates its 144th renewal this May 18, did not fare as well. Preakness raced through his eighth season, and then made his way to England where he became one of the first American horses afforded genuine recognition by the British. Purchased by a British Duke with a temper and a fondness for too much drink, the horse whose name is forever memorialized, was shot by the Duke in a drunken rage. In 1889, due to changes in wagering and rac-
ing, the Preakness galloped to a halt in Mary- land for 20 years. Before it returned for good in 1909 and without break to the present, New Yorkers were treated to Maryland’s “lost Preak- nesses” at Morris Park in 1890, and for 15 years, at Brooklyn’s Gravesend racetrack. In the inter- im, Pimlico was home to a bit of steeplechase and harness racing, and a stint as Camp Wilm- er, where the First Maryland Brigade trained for the Spanish - American War. To herald the return of the Free State’s pride and joy on May 12, 1909, William R. Riggs - like the visionary MJC President Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt in the 1930s - launched a number of valued traditions surviving to- day, specifically the singing of “Maryland My Maryland” during the post parade and the “painting of the colors” atop the weather vane to honor the winning horse. Vanderbilt’s leadership brought Pimlico much success and renown. In the early days of movies and newsreels, to create unobstructed camera sight lines, he famously leveled the infield in- cline where carriages, motor cars and people clustered for the best view of the races, and
gave rise to the popular “Old Hilltop.” Te leg- endary 1938 Seabiscuit - War Admiral match race had been Vanderbilt’s brainchild.
Preakness Stakes Traditions Te spontaneous exuberance of the Preakness’
return to Maryland in 1909 inspired a bugler, moved by the spirit of the day, to play Mary- land’s historic state song “Maryland, My Mary- land” with the full band and a celebratory crowd joining in enthusiastically. For over two decades, this musical honor has been performed by the United States Naval Academy Glee Club, patriotically attired in full dress whites. From 1870 through 1966,
Pimlico’s
“Old Clubhouse,” a sprawling and ele- gant Victorian struc- ture
painted
with white trim and green shutters,
yellow de-
fined a racing era that has ridden into the sunset. It was the place to see and be seen; no need for a dress code. Gentlemen were attired in business suits or tweed sports coats, ladies the latest fash- ions in dress and millinery. White-coated wait- ers and a tuxedoed maître d’ served customers. Te jovial atmosphere was one of elegance and storied reminiscences, racing heirlooms and cherished memories. Tough destroyed by fire in 1966, a whisper of Pimlico’s Old Clubhouse survives today in three respected practices, the painting of the weather vane atop the infield cupola replica, the Alibi Breakfast and all jock- eys’ ubiquitous reference to the first turn past
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the finish line as the “Clubhouse Turn.” Te 1909 revival also inspired the ritual of
painting the winning owner’s silks on the Old Clubhouse weather vane, christened by 1909 winner Effendi. After the original arrow- shaped weather vane was destroyed by light- ning the same year, the Maryland Jockey Club commissioned a local iron worker to produce the now universally recognized horse and rider, which remains one of the fire’s few surviving items of heritage and stands on proud display in Pimlico’s “Hoofbeats Trough History” exhibit. A replica of the Old Clubhouse was built in the infield - the cu- pola - and each year, for fans world wide, television cameras capture the painting of the winning colors and saddlecloth number, which proudly stand in homage to the vic- tor until next year’s Preakness.
Former
Even though the original clubhouse burnt down in 1966, that section of the track at Pim- lico is still referred to as the “clubhouse turn.”
painter, Michael Will- inger, once acknowl- edged, “Let’s face it... It’s the only televised
sign-painting job in the country!” Renowned artist Leroy Neiman performed the honors to commemorate the 125th Preakness in 2000. One of Preakness week’s favorite traditions,
Tursday’s Alibi Breakfast, has roots in the heyday of the Old Clubhouse, when trainers, owners, and racing enthusiasts gathered to chat and boast the merits of their horses. Tey “offered no alibis,” but swapped some of rac- ing’s best stories, fiction and fact. Today’s Alibi Breakfast gathers media, horsemen and guests continued...
Plan Your Season!
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Maryland Jockey Club
920526-190519
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