Pimlico Race Course — Attraction in Baltimore

Went to the Preakness. Horrid. Dead-drunk degenerate lecherous old (and young) locals run the place. Will molest and violate any and all women, pick-pocket and outright steal anything not locked down - including your left-over lunch and the Rubbermaid box you brought it in (do NOT buy food here). Will also block your view because they didn't buy seats - and if you stand to see, will steal your seats! They pay no mind to no-smoking signs, drop lit cigarettes on dry plywood floors, and can barely maneuver up a couple of steps. They piss themselves and then stand before you proudly wobbling and yelling unintelligibly. They grope each other and themselves in front of your children - and if you're not careful, you. Young ladies need protection from their gentleman escorts - who all walked around with a look of mixed terror and disgust. They were clearly of my same mind. There is no one working "security" or doing anything else to whom a complaint can be made. (Think the very opposite of the Derby.) Don't use the toilets - even the ones for VIPs are disgusting. "Attendants" will provide you with a little toilet paper and paper towel before you go in and tell you not to use too much water to wash up with. OMG. Don't buy the drinks - they're watered down and over-priced - and not very good anyway - and certainly not "historic". Why not do as the locals do and bring in your own drinks disguised as 2L soda bottles?! The plywood making up the place is rotting away so you can see the sand beneath. Be careful not to get your shoe, trouser leg, or skirt hem hooked on any splinters. We had row B Concourse seats - row A has long since disappeared - no doubt due to dry rot. Parking is also a nightmare: while they have a few folks telling where you can park as you come in, there is NO ONE there when it's time to leave so it's survival of the fittest at that point. The police showed up a couple of hours after the races ended to keep traffic moving on the side streets. The track doctor euthanized Pramedya due to a broken cannon bone - which is often a break that can be healed. I'm not saying that he isn't trustworthy but with all the other practices at this course, I wouldn't balk at the idea that he just couldn't be bothered. I'm attending all three "Crown" races this year but never will again. I'll stick to my local Queen's Plate in future. Maybe go to the odd Derby (there, even the cheap seats are classy and the fans friendly.) The idea of attending the Preakness at Pimlico gives me nightmares. Frank Stronach, take the Preakness to Laurel Park. PLEASE! I thought I was against this but not now. It needs to be taken away from this Baltimore dump - even temporarily (if you want to knock this down and rebuild - and charge prices that will keep the most abhorrent locals away on Preakness Day - or at least put them on their best - albeit likely still inappropriate - behavior). I didn't want to give any stars - in fact, I wanted some back to make this negative 5 stars but I can't do that. This was the worst experience of my life - and that's...

This is long, hope you'll read to the end. Went for the Preakness one year. We parked at a light rail station before the track you save $35 to park at the track and took a special shuttle to the track. Didn't know it lets you out basically a. 1/2 mile from the entrance for in-field tkt holders. Once we got to the entrance, we waited in line nearly an hour. I was on a mission to see the race in person at least once (but I won't do it this way again.) Bought tickets for the 'in field' with unlimited beer, concert, vendors, wagering and of course the races up close. You have to bring your chair-in-bag and/or blanket, no rain umbrellas allowed, wish I had known that in advance, they confiscate them. Rain was predicted so I had protection. What makes that even worst, some bum was selling the umbrellas when you left the track (I didn't see mine though.) There were a lot if rude people constantly stepping on our blanket in spite of the fact we were in a good spot giving space to others. The lines to get beer were so long I only went twice. Just before the big race, the skies opened and I could have sworn an ocean fell out it rained so hard and fast, with enough wind to blow filled trashcans around the field. It was kind of scary. Fortunately we got under the wager tent with our stuff just before it started. The walk through the tunnel back to the street was a 'wading' adventure no one wanted to take, yuck! Riding back to the bus to the train to get our car was another adventure but at least the rain stopped. My advice, buy tickets early (Nov.), get the grandstand or VIP tickets with valet parking or at least lot parking and save yourself unless what I mentioned above is your scene. Despite the drama, we had fun and looking at the gorgeous hats and dapper short suits with bowties...

Came here with The Missus (bless 'er) recently. It was my first time at Pimlico and it won't be the last.

Bet on a couple of races, taking the advice of the broadcast touts, and won a few bones.

Ate at the "dining room" on the second floor. Very surprised and pleased by both the quality and quantity of the food we ordered: the slider app and the lobster roll main course. My biggest pet peeve dining out is being served cold or lukewarm french fries. The kitchen here produced fries that were hot and fresh. Whew!

There is an bouquet of low-rent desperation mingled with animal sweat that hangs over horse race courses. Where men and women walk about or sit quietly or nervously pace back and forth, all the while clutching those scraps of paper that have their futures written on them in unforgiving black and white. Where faces are pressed to the glass that separates them from the parading horse flesh, hoping to find that clue to a win, place or show.

There is also an almost gentil aura that covers everything and everyone, making the day are real event that requires everyone to have good manners, the gentlemen to wear jackets and the ladies a lovely hat. Of course, maybe that's just me...

All in all, we had a great time and will...