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Classic Preakness related quotes and a helpful link
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From the 5-14-09 Baltimore Sun :
"Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas said ticket sales are picking up after a slow start, particularly since star filly Rachel Alexandra entered the field of challengers to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. He foresees a drop in sales of about 10 percent to 12 percent but still expects to hit the magic attendance number of 100,000"
Preakness 2008 attendance =112,222
Preakness 2009 attendance =77,850
From the 5-17-09 Baltimore Sun:
"Definitely you can tell the presence is lighter than normal," said Mayor Sheila Dixon. But she blamed the difficult economy more than the alcohol policy. Others thought another factor might have been the cool, gray weather"
"The economy" is the lamest excuse I have ever heard. 35,000 people do not suddenly disappear because of the economy. The weather was great for most of the day and it has been much worse before in 100,000+ attendance years. Attendance was down because of the alcohol policy! End of story. Tom Chuckas needs to be fired.
The missing 35,000 people contributed a lot of money to the economy of the area surrounding the track. That money will be missed by many in the community. Some people have suggested that the economic situation of those who live near the track has been exaggerated. This link shows the cold hard facts about the poverty around Pimlico.
