Pimlico- Race of Death

What? You think I’m kidding?

Two horses, Homeboykris and Prameyda, die at Pimlico on Preakness Day
By Dave Sheinin, Washington Post
May 21 at 2:59 PM

Prameyda, a 4-year-old filly, broke down on the final turn of a 1 1/16-mile turf race, suffering a broken cannon bone in her left front leg, and was euthanized on the track. Her jockey, Daniel Centeno, was taken to a nearby hospital with what was believed to be a broken collarbone.

Prameyda, making just her fifth career start, was owned by the same stable, Lael Stables, that owned Barbaro, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby before breaking a leg in the Preakness and dying eight months later.
…
Homeboykris, a 9-year-old gelding who finished 16th in the 2010 Derby, had just rallied to score a half-length victory in the first race of the day at Pimlico, which went off at 10:30 a.m. He stopped at the winner’s circle, where a photo commemorating his victory was taken, and was on his way back to the barn when he suddenly collapsed. Hall of Fame baseball manager Joe Torre was among his owners.

“Homeboykris hasn’t taken a bad step since we’ve had him,” tweeted Chris Campitelli, son of trainer Francis Campitelli. “Owner claimed him to assure he went to good home after race career. Freak accident.” He also called it a “devastating loss.”

Homeboykris, who counted 15 wins among his 64 career starts, was expected to be taken to New Bolton Center Hospital in Pennsylvania, about 75 miles north of Baltimore, for a necropsy, according to Pimlico officials. New Bolton is the same facility where Barbaro had surgery after breaking his leg in the Preakness.

I know horse people. They say that they’re like big dogs you can ride, only smarter. I wouldn’t claim even to be an amateur myself, though I have ridden in more than a sad circle around a carny. Thoroughbreds are also insane and fragile because of the inbreeding, so in some ways it’s like saddling up Caligula or Akhenaten (or if you prefer Amenhotep IV).

Did I ruin your experience?

The race was now getting a frenzied response as Dust Commander began to make the running.  Bangles and jewels rattled on suntanned, wobbling flesh and even the pillar men in suits were now on tip-toe, creased skin under double-chins stretched to the limit into long furrows that curved down into tight collars.

Mouths opened and closed and veins pulsed in unison as the frenzy reached its climax.  One or two slumped back as their horses failed, but the mass hysteria rose to a final orgasmic shriek, at last bubbling over into whoops of joy, hugging and back slapping.  I turned to face the track again, but it was all over.  That was it.

Pimlico
Preakness Trivia

• Actually 2 years older than the Kentucky Derby.
• Shortest in distance (1/16th shorter than the Derby).
• Only the Derby has a larger attendance.

There have been 35 winners of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes including the 12 Triple Crown winners.

The most racist theme song of the Triple Crown-

Maryland, My Maryland

The despot’s heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!

Hark to an exiled son’s appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!

Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll’s sacred trust,
Remember Howard’s warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!

Come! ’tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold’s spirit for the fray,
With Watson’s blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!

Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!

Dear Mother! burst the tyrant’s chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
“Sic semper!” ’tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back amain,
Maryland! My Maryland!

I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!

Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll,
Better the blade, the shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!

I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line’s bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! she burns! she’ll come! she’ll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!

So, basically an anthem calling for sedition and treason in support of slavery and the violent overthrow of the duly and democratically elected government of the United States (and the assassination of the President).

Preakness Traditions

Winners don’t get the real Woodlawn Cup to keep, but a half size replica (oh, and the Woodlawn Racing Club is defunct).  Black Eyed Susans don’t bloom until 2 months after the Preakness.  No Black Eyed Susan has ever been used, currently it’s painted Chysthanthemums.  The Old Clubhouse was destroyed in a fire in 1966.  They paint the winner’s racing silks on the weathervane.  No one on the internet knows why it’s called the Alibi Breakfast.

Official Website

I need a drink-

Oh, the race. The track will be muddy, Nyquist is the overwhelming favorite and it’s hard to argue against that- he only put up the fastest time in 13 years at the Derby (yup, better than American Pharoah). Really the only close competitor is Exaggerator and he’s a late closer in a short race.

Expect something boring, short, and futile unless someone puts an eye out. Then it will just be fun (or tragic like Oedipus and Gloucester).

Post time 6:45 pm ET on NBC.