The Maryland Jockey Club has taken a substantial step to ensure that the 1999 Preakness Stakes will not be struck by another blackout.
"We've spent a lot of money to put up a generator system as a backup source," said chief administrative officer Jim Mango. "We went ahead and did the electrical foundation and will rent backup generators. That will give us full electrical protection for the entire plant."
The action is intended to prevent a recurrence of the nightmare of 1998, when a transformer malfunctioned and left much of the facility without lighting, pari-mutuel machines and elevator service midway through the Preakness program.
Estimates placed the loss of betting revenue at $2 million on Maryland racing's biggest wagering day.
"BG&E; [Baltimore Gas and Electric] has a tremendous system that is fairly reliable," Mango said. "Now, we have a reserve."
The absence of the two barns behind the grandstand will be the most visible change when Old Hilltop launches Maryland's most lucrative meeting today with a 10-race card. The session runs through June 20 with a 1: 05 p.m. post time daily Wednesday through Sunday (excluding Easter Sunday).
Also missing will be the auxiliary or so-called "Arazi" press box on the rooftop. It will be demolished in response to Baltimore City's concerns about safety.
"They're concerned about congestion on the roof," Mango said. "This will ease that. We're also putting up a rail out front up there and looking at some options to take care of the press Preakness Week."
Barns Q and H have been removed to create more parking for horsemen near the grandstand, especially on Saturdays, when traffic is heaviest, and to accommodate the trailers used by ABC and ESPN during the period between the Pimlico Special and the Preakness a week later.
The plant has also been spruced up for a meeting that includes the addition of two stakes, the Grade III All Along and the Chesapeake, to the popular Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship Series. That brings to eight the number of MATCH races at Pimlico this spring.
Also up is the second leg of the first Steeplechase Triple Crown, the Grade I Joe Aitcheson Steeplechase on May 13.
A total of 39 stakes will be of- fered, with the first mega-racing day scheduled for April 17, Maryland Spring Challenge Day, which includes five stakes, four for state-bred horses. That program features the $200,000 Federico Tesio.
It is an aggressive campaign that will be needed to counteract the competition from slots-driven Delaware Park, which opens its meeting April 10.
"We're going against the tiger again," Mango said.
NOTES: The opening-day promotions include free admission to the grandstand, a free live racing program and $1 food and drink concessions (excluding alcohol and tobacco). The feature race, the $60,000 Smart Halo Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, has drawn nine entries. Every subsequent Wednesday in April will offer $1 concessions. An additional race -- to be run on the turf -- will expand the Preakness Day card. Post time will be pushed back to 10: 45 a.m. Gate schooling will be held at Pimlico on Wednesday through Saturday and at Laurel and Bowie on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Fans are invited to enter the Triple Crown Challenge Contest by selecting the winner of a selected event each Saturday in April. The winner earns a $100 cash wager.
Pub Date: 3/31/99