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Post by Badactor on May 5, 2019 11:31:11 GMT -5
dis·re·pair
noun
poor condition of a building or structure due to neglect.
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Post by Badactor on May 5, 2019 11:44:53 GMT -5
Blame Canada!
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gam
UpInClass Member
Posts: 1,007
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Post by gam on May 5, 2019 12:31:03 GMT -5
Probably a flawed solution (and others are free to point out why) but what if Stronach ceded the Preakness (and the rights to a May meet at Pimlico) to the Maryland Jockey Club/State of Maryland and they invest the money necessary to do the necessary renovations. Clearly Stronach Group doesn't want to invest in Pimlico but you can't expect Maryland/Baltimore to foot the bill if the profits from the event are going to Stronacch.
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Post by cherokeescot on May 20, 2019 0:23:33 GMT -5
My first visit to Pimlico and most probably my last. I went there with very low expectations and they were matched. Problems with water supply resulted in very long lines at the restrooms , particularly for the ladies. Also the automatic betting machines that I used mostly malfunctioned while the human tellers invariably did not have a clue. Heard varying rumors that this would be the last Preakness or that 2020 would definitely be the last at Pimlico. Having said that , all the events we went to at the Baltimore Inner Harbor were very pleasant but I’m happy I did not see this ESPN article until I got home ! theundefeated.com/features/baltimore-black-neighborhood-complicated-relationship-with-the-home-of-preakness/
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Post by PonyGirlJCM on May 20, 2019 2:35:30 GMT -5
My first visit to Pimlico and most probably my last. I went there with very low expectations and they were matched. Problems with water supply resulted in very long lines at the restrooms , particularly for the ladies. Also the automatic betting machines that I used mostly malfunctioned while the human tellers invariably did not have a clue. Heard varying rumors that this would be the last Preakness or that 2020 would definitely be the last at Pimlico. Having said that , all the events we went to at the Baltimore Inner Harbor were very pleasant but I’m happy I did not see this ESPN article until I got home ! theundefeated.com/features/baltimore-black-neighborhood-complicated-relationship-with-the-home-of-preakness/Cannot fix problems with a couple of weeks of racing...
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grommet
UpInClass Member
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Post by grommet on May 20, 2019 7:48:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the write-up, Cherokee. Just to make sure I'm reading between the lines correctly - in summary, you are highly recommending a week-long Air B&B right next to Pimlico leading up to the Preakness next year?
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eye123
UpInClass Steward
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Post by eye123 on May 20, 2019 8:02:49 GMT -5
A couple of paragraphs in the article struck me as the bottom line: Her friend Roderick Barnette, who is convinced that the track will be closed, said, “There’s no money here. This is a drug haven. White people come here once a year, they gamble, make their money and get the hell out. In Laurel, they can make more money because there’s more white people. I’m just keeping it real.” ...and...... Overall, Park Heights residents seem less concerned about losing the Preakness than addressing more immediate problems of crime, poverty, broken schools, lack of retail and jobs, food deserts, poor housing, shabby services, disinvestment and endless failed urban renewal plans over the past 30 years It seems inevitable that the Preakness moves to Laurel, unless; you get the community,track management,city, AND outside investment to come together in a bold way to revitalize the area. It's possible, but takes strong commitment by all. purposebuiltcommunities.org/who-we-are/history/
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1hooper
UpInClass Steward
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Post by 1hooper on May 20, 2019 10:16:54 GMT -5
Been to Pimlico and the Preakness a few times, really not that much fun. Maryland Million day in the fall at Laurel was always a good time. The Inner Harbor and catching an Orioles game was the best part of most weekends. Hooper
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shoes
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Post by shoes on May 20, 2019 16:24:47 GMT -5
Attended one Preakness (War Emblems) and it was pretty dreary- both the weather and the facility. Have been to Laurel a number of times and always enjoyed it. Agree that the Inner Harbor is fun with lots of dood places to eat and drink and its great just to walk around. Even Timye doesn't come here anymore and extoll its virtues.
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gam
UpInClass Member
Posts: 1,007
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Post by gam on May 21, 2019 10:32:25 GMT -5
Distracting myself for a few minutes this morning I came across this tidbit about Bowie Racecourse, which closed some time ago. Seems a resurrection, even if mostly for housing and training, might be in the works. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/the-stronach-group-plans-to-re-open-bowie/My lone trip to the Preakness was quite nice, the year Smarty romped. It was about 15 years ago, so the disrepair was less, I'd assume. We were in the infield, also, so away from the main facility and had beautiful, summery weather. The deals you could get on Priceline then were great. We got a hotel on the Inner Harbor (Sheraton, I think) for like $109 Preakness Day. My one friend who went had a sister who lived in Frederick. We drove down from Pittsburgh Early Friday evening and his sister put us up. Drove down to the hotel in the morning and, although we couldn't check in yet, we parked at the hotel garage, loaded up the cooler full of beer and headed for a nearby subway station. Got off at Rogers Avenue, where there were shuttle buses waiting to transport us the relatively short distance to Pimlico. After returning to the hotel when the races were over, we made our way to Fells Point and had a fun time there at a nice beer bar whose name escapes me. If next year is going to be the last at Pimlico, maybe it's time for a return trip.
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