The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1940-05-08
BY MASON BRUNSON
AP Feature Service

old Baltimore lets down its hair
once year and goes daffy over
horse race-the PreakneSs Stakes.
The Preakness Is maryland's
proudest, Oldest, richest race-dat-
ing back to 1873, two years before
the first Kentucky Derby was run.
The Golden Jubilee running of
the classic on May IL is expected
to draw more than 10000. f.
Rain for the past two years has
cut down attendance, but even SO,
more than 10000 fans brayed wet,
chilly weather in 1889 to see w. L.
Brann,s Maryland-bred Challe-
don splash in ahead of five rivals,
including the favored YOUNGSTOWN.
Everybody who can goes to
Pimlico on Preakness day--the
rest listen to the race by radio in
barrooms, pool hall, hotels. apart
ments and mansions.
Bookies, who still operate against
the law in Baltimore, do a land
office business with stay-at-homes.
Marylanders make up most of
the track crowd but New York,
Philadelphia, Wilmington, WASH
ington, Richmond and Louisville
send thousands. 81
The list of boxholders reads
like who's who of the racing
world. There always is a generous
sprinkling of celebrities from all
fields.
Here are a few hints for you If
you're among those expected this
year.
Traffic's Terrific
Traffic on Baltimore's narrow
streets is terrific. You'd better
start for Pimlico early or you
might not get there. Just about
every cab driver iii town heads
for the track, usually taking four
customers at SO cents head. You
can get to Pimlico by street car,
but it's long and tedious ride.
AS a general rule, prices don't
zoom in Baltimore for the Freak
ness.
You can get hotel accommodate
tons easily and reasonably by wir-
ing a few days In advance. Some
people get them at the last min
ute, but usually all accommoda-
tons are taken the night before
the race. A good room costs SO
or T. ga
At the Preakness, as at any
other Maryland horse race, the
No. drink is Maryland rye, usu-
ally straight. Plenty of beer mugs
are tilted, too.
A couple of years ago, coinci-
dent with the first Preakness bah,
there was a contest for a new
drink the Preakness cocktail.
Bartenders submitted recipes and
an official board tasted the entries.
The winner had base of Mary
land rye-and the general effect
of TINT.
(You can still get Preakness
cocktail We advise it afterward.
If you want to see the race. Best
place to get it is at the Emerson
Hotel, whose bartender. George;
concocted it. Price. IS cents)
Plenty Of Racing
There is no other sporting event
to go with the Preakness but the
Maryland Jockey Clubs Freak
ness Week program gives horse
lovers several good days Of the
sport. ~ - p
You can come to, the Preakness
for the day or for the weekend
and spend just about as you want
to. There's a price range to suit
any purse land no one tries te
hold you up. It's sort OF gentle
mans agreement and the whole
keynote is hospitality.
For instance. the admission
price range at Pinlico on Freak
ness day is this $i65 general ad.
mission; SITS reserved seats
$3.50 for the clubhouse and SIS!
plus $1.65 for box seats with club.
house privileges.
Preakness crowds are general,
jolly. good natured and well-be'
haved. Police report little trouble
Marylanders are proud OF thei,
Preakness as an important fixture
in determining the three year-olt
championship, The Maryland Jock.
ey Club calls it the Center jewell
in the triple-crown because i
comes just after the Derby ant
just before the Belmont Stakes.
Started 81 Years Ago
Only one other horse race ii
Maryland approaches the Freak.
ness in general interest. That's the
Pimlico Special, started a few
years back by Vanderbilt as 9
championship contest" Challe.
don won last years Special. just
as he did the Preakness, anc
clinched the three-year-old crown