Pimlico trip report

[wiffleball whizz]

First time here absolutely blown away.....gotta hit the road will give pics and details later but if u want my early opinion Saratoga has nothing on this place in terms of a old school feel

I can really see myself loving this place if I move down here!!!!

[cj]

You sure you are at Pimlico?

[Saratoga_Mike]

First time here absolutely blown away.....gotta hit the road will give pics and details later but if u want my early opinion Saratoga has nothing on this place in terms of a old school feel

I can really see myself loving this place if I move down here!!!!

Wow, you really need to walk around Saratoga Racecourse more.

[Stillriledup]

Wow, you really need to walk around Saratoga Racecourse more.

Or del Mar, since, you don't need an umbrella in your car during your stay!

[Skanoochies]

You sure you are at Pimlico?

:lol: LMAO!

[ronsmac]

This can't be the same pimlico i've been to over a thousand times . I've been to over 40 tracks, pimlico is in the bottom 5.

[Stillriledup]

:lol: LMAO!

Check mark for CJ, that was a fine and funny piece of work! :D

[wiffleball whizz]

You sure you are at Pimlico?

Classic post!!!!!!!

[VeryOldMan]

You sure you are at Pimlico?

LOL.

Dude (w_w) - excitement about possibly moving to a good job in Maryland doesn't equal Pimlico being a great track :)

I haven't been there in a while but it would have to have improved about 10X to get a rave review from me; been to its sister track Laurel plenty and that makes me dubious as hell. Just saying. If you move down here to Maryland - welcome! Just busting on your enthusiasm for Pimlico.

[wiffleball whizz]

Ok so I had a interview for a job at Maryland live casino today I leave my house outside of AC at 5:30 and get to the marley station mall at about 8:45 I get out of the interview at about 12:25 or so....leaving there I got onto 95 pretty easy and was headed back home before I got the brainstorm to go to pimlico.....how 2 weeks ago I planned this interview around pimlico And the baseball game tonite with the birds...to make a long story short my friend at work his parent is sick and he asked me if I would cover his shift tonight.....I have no choice I tell him no problem...so down went my plans for tonight And tnrw but I gotta help out my friend....so I just say f*** it I'll go to pim today..

Now I get of 95 And I get onto some road and it's just a complete warzone....I wanna say it was north way or parkway sometimg and I'm saying to myself I heard stories of it being a rough neighborhood but not this bad....and please don't take this as stereotyping or racism I just thought it was rough but I didn't feel I was in danger even bought 2 bottle of water off a guy selling on the median...

I I hit the corner I know I'm close but still not there yet but I see a small yellow sign saying pimlico home of the Preakness sticking up above a brick wall.....I bang a right and baaam here I am....this place is right in the middle of the neighborhood....so I'm stalking the place from my car and I pull up to the clubhouse turn I get out of my car and im right on the turn I look at the turf course and it looks like there is hills on it and the track I guess was being sealed...now where im standing on the turn all I can vision is this is where Barbaro broke down....I mean it was right there where I was standing...

Now I look on the tote board from the turn and I see odds im like oh shit maybe they are racing today but I later found out it was chili racing...

So I get in my car and go to the clubhouse and park in the small lot there....I take a picture of the "famous" letters on the wall pimlico home of the Preakness...I go through the doors and now it hits me im at a place I've seen on simulcast tv and national tv my whole life and now I'm here....right away how small this place is really baffles me...I go up the 7 or 8 stairs and now I'm in the main part of the CH....again not a glamour show but it's not run down either....I Walking around I see the inside paddock....really cool and the have lots of old school tote boards as well lit up with chile odds lolololol

Now from there I walk out the doors to the apron and basically there is no apron it's so small and tight there....how the horses fit through that narrow walkway is beyond me...

So I go back inside I go around out into the grandstand some guy tells me the last door is open...so I walk out to the grandstand apron again not much room there...i walk into the winners circle it's like a fake brick surface very soft and the scale is there I step on it I was afraid to look at the number....I take a few pix then walk back through the paddock out and back up to the clubhouse...and that was it

All In all I really liked this place....very small but very historic..don't know how u can watch the race on Preakness day if u don't have a seat...so small!!!

Now when I said this place has the feel of a Saratoga I'm just saying that it's a hardcore racetrack....it's not nicer then the spa....

It has to be a zoo there on Preakness day oh my god...but all in all I was impressed with it when I move down there I'll Definitly go bet horses there....

I hope this thread gives people who never been to pimlico before a little feel of how it is there....it's nothing like u see on NBC

[cj's dad]

You were on North Ave.

You have no idea how lucky you are !

[wiffleball whizz]

You were on North Ave.

You have no idea how lucky you are !

Hahahahahahaha I know!!!!!! They weren't lying when they said its in a bad area!!!

Now there's gotta be some good spots at Pim to hang out for the day....some corner bar hidden....lolololol at the CH bathroom u gotta go down like 5 steps that was wierd

[wiffleball whizz]

Again another thread I have nice pix but can't post them....If I know how to I'll post pix at work on the pc there...

Guys at least give me some credit that I got up the courage to trek out to pim even though it was a non racing day.....


Bottom line.....I loved every second of it..

Left pimlico at about 1:20 got back home outside of ac at about 5...

[VeryOldMan]

You were on North Ave.

You have no idea how lucky you are !

This! :)

Pimlico's owners have had the advantage of one of the Triple Crown races being held there. That's what keeps this track alive. It's not in the worst part of town by any means. Sounds like cj's dad and I are MD based. Don't let Pimlico or the traffic deter you - if you land a job at Maryland Live!, this area is going to be like the Capitol in The Hunger Games.

[Rise Over Run]

You were on North Ave.

You have no idea how lucky you are !
I doubt he was on North Ave. Probably on Northern Parkway.

[Rise Over Run]

Now I look on the tote board from the turn and I see odds im like oh shit maybe they are racing today but I later found out it was chili racing...
Only if I was really hungry would I eat the hot dogs there; definitely wouldn't touch the chili. Probably left over from Preakness anyway.

[NJ Stinks]

Guys at least give me some credit that I got up the courage to trek out to pim even though it was a non racing day.....


Bottom line.....I loved every second of it..



I always felt the same way about Pimlico. It's got an oldtime feel to it that you can't buy.

And I do give you extra credit! :cool:

[PhantomOnTour]

Chill out folks - Pimlico is awesome, a REAL race track with the look and feel of the old days.

[JustRalph]

You were on North Ave.

You have no idea how lucky you are !

:lol:

If I remember right, that's the back way in? When Cj's Dad says you were lucky, take him seriously.

[wiffleball whizz]

:lol:

If I remember right, that's the back way in? When Cj's Dad says you were lucky, take him seriously.

100 percent took north ave in.....I came in racing the yellow pimlico sign about 15 feet tall.....wasn't a glamour show....

[Edward DeVere]

WW -- Pimlico really is NOT small. However, it's VERY easy to miss entire sections.

For instance, did you get to the section with the one-room museum? (Which is actually pretty cool for a one-room museum.)

[wiffleball whizz]

WW -- Pimlico really is NOT small. However, it's VERY easy to miss entire sections.

For instance, did you get to the section with the one-room museum? (Which is actually pretty cool for a one-room museum.)

No basically I was from 30 feet before the wire and past...when I said small I meant the area between the building And track fence...Very tight in my opinion...

I thought the place was awesome....

Cj prob been there Tons of times and the place lost its luster for him...same as mth for me

A little mad looks like pim is almost done for the year....short And sweet sked I guess...

I'll keep my promise if I accept the job there dinner on me for 4 people at pim or lrl so u guys can show me the good spots to hang....

I'm not a fan of betting flats but it beats no live racing

[wiffleball whizz]

What kind of deal does the MJC have with racing from south america to be taking action there non stop.....is it really necessary to have every tote board that's in the place lit up with the Argentinian tracks odds?

[precocity]

even bought 2 bottle of water off a guy selling on the median... :D

[precocity]

What kind of deal does the MJC have with racing from south america to be taking action there non stop.....is it really necessary to have every tote board that's in the place lit up with the Argentinian tracks odds?
dont know but some of those latin tracks pay a boat load on tri and supers. just pick a number. :p

[cj]

I'm not a fan of betting flats but it beats no live racing

What is the story with Rosecroft these days?

[cj]

I just saw, they are open for live racing.

[wiffleball whizz]

I just saw, they are open for live racing.

Rosecroft reopened last year or year before...they race tuesady and sat nights I believe purses are mere peanuts.......I think they re opened in hopes of getting a full blown casino granted to them...but they are racing....when its 1 minute to post its literally 15 seconds to post....they dont delay there

Very scary scene there last year wit a horrific spill....races were delayed an hour this was the aftermath...very scary but I believe everybody including horses were ok....

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR76pLiYtfo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[bitter]

What is the story with Rosecroft these days?

you wanna talk about a rough area, PG County aint no country club either.

not sure i can think of a worse place in MD to build a "luxury" casino.

pimlico is nice, it's got a lot of history and nostalgia. But, aside from preakness day, i'm not sure why anyone would want to go there. They put more money into the preakness infield fest 1 day a year then they do the entire facility the remaining 364 days a year.

I'm sure some of you remember the preakness year where the 1st floor men's bathroom was being flooded by the 2nd floor men's bathroom, on the tracks biggest day?

[wiffleball whizz]

Is there a way to post pix with a iPhone? There's a few good pix I got here....I really can't wait to go back

[VeryOldMan]

Rosecroft reopened last year or year before...they race tuesady and sat nights I believe purses are mere peanuts.......I think they re opened in hopes of getting a full blown casino granted to them...

This is right - reopened in 2011; Penn National was hoping to get authorization to put slot machines there - they sure weren't buying it in anticipation of a resurgence in harness racing. The harness racing is an afterthought.

With the authorized expansion of casino sites in Maryland, there will now be one in PG County come 2016. The fix seems to be in for MGM at National Harbor, but Penn National has shown up with a rival proposal involving the Rosecroft site.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-05-10/business/bs-bz-mge-bid-20130508_1_sixth-casino-gaming-control-agency-tim-wilmott

[Shelby]

I like your enthusiasm, WW!!! Thanks for the report :) I've only been to Remington Park and Will Rogers Downs, oh and Anthony Downs--would love to go to a big track some day.

[proximity]

ww, are you going to work in the poker room at live?

looking forward to that opening, should be some great action!!

[wiffleball whizz]

ww, are you going to work in the poker room at live?

looking forward to that opening, should be some great action!!

Yes as a dealer or shift manager...believe me trying everything in my power to be a dealer and not shift manager....it's not the responsibility I don't want when your a dealer u can sign the "early out" and get out as soon as possible and it doesn't count against you....I'm not on a power trip I've very content dealing and keeping my own tips...I love my freedom and as a shift I don't get that

As to what you said I think the room is in a situation where no matter what it will always be busy...LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.....

If you play poker and ever in Atlantic city feel free to pm me can always help anybody on this board with accommodations.....(sometimes Friday and sat are a little tough)

I met the room director yesterday and he seems like the perfect person for the job.....look forward to meeting you around the felt or down on the rail!!!

[proximity]

If you play poker and ever in Atlantic city feel free to pm me can always help anybody on this board with accommodations.....(sometimes Friday and sat are a little tough)

I met the room director yesterday and he seems like the perfect person for the job.....look forward to meeting you around the felt or down on the rail!!!

total rewards always comps me on sun-th. most fri my rate isn't too bad when i don't get comped but Saturday it has been horrible lately.

i'll let you know the next time i'm going and good luck with md live.

[wiffleball whizz]

total rewards always comps me on sun-th. most fri my rate isn't too bad when i don't get comped but Saturday it has been horrible lately.

i'll let you know the next time i'm going and good luck with md live.

Total rewards is pretty good with rooms...they bury me so there smart enough to keep me coming back with nonsense buffets and whatnot....bottom line all Caesars properties got overrated buffets....

Watcing pimlico yesterday I had a whole new view on the place....but job or no job in md I think they will be done in a few weeks for the year

[tanner12oz]

"old race track feel"

code words for smells like stale beer and piss....i think pimlico is a dump and that MTR actually is a step up...funny eh? Keeneland is the best by far

[wiffleball whizz]

"old race track feel"

code words for smells like stale beer and piss....i think pimlico is a dump and that MTR actually is a step up...funny eh? Keeneland is the best by far

No track smells like piss more then monticello....

I give pimlico slack track is old And in a warzone and for a few days a year is the sports capital of the county....

I don't have a problem if pimlico got slots or big time funding more then they got now cus they have done it on there own for a long time....

Question how do horses ship into the grounds there....it was a pain in the ass getting there off the highway....I was in tight quarters on some streets....

And where the f*** do people park on Preakness day?

[gheuks]

Pimlico does have that "old track feel" Been going there since I was a kid. Now in my 30's, the track hasn't changed much. I cant think of any major renovations in the past 25 years at least. Maybe a coat of new paint and some minor repairs here and there, but that's it. The place is very large and outdated. Major renovations are needed badly. The problem is, that with the exception of Preakness week, much of the facility is empty. Is Frank Stronach going to spend big bucks for a huge facility that is only truly used fully a few days a year??? That's the big question that is supposed to be answered later this summer when the renovation plans for pimlico Pare supposed to come out.

As of right now, the only thing for sure is that new barns are going to be built at Pimlico and Laurel in the next few months. I think each are getting barns to accommodate 250 horses each. Bowie training center is scheduled to close at the end of this year or soon thereafter. Pimlico will once again be opened year round for stabling. Hopefully the new barns are just the first step in some big upgrades. Purses in Maryland have improved, and with the opening of the casino in Baltimore city scheduled sometime in 2014, projections are that they will be the highest on the east coast with the exception of NY and maybe FLA.

Lets hope for the best. But ill believe when I see it.

[cj's dad]

The track needs to be reloacated downtown where the tourists are and in a safer neighborhood. There is more land available near the Inner Harbor than most realize.

[wiffleball whizz]

The track needs to be reloacated downtown where the tourists are and in a safer neighborhood. There is more land available near the Inner Harbor than most realize.

Got the phone call from maryand live yesterday telling me I got the fulltime position I applied for....between the choice of dealer and supervisor I chose to be a dealer only because im working for myself and able to leave early if business needs warrent it....

So with this said by August 12th or maybe before I'll be leaving this dump of Atlantic city to go to a better place in Maryland!!!

I'm now looking forward to resuming going to baseball games like I did years ago be in a more modern great town such as Baltimore and of course be able to attend live racing and meet new people down there for that I can't wait....

So tmrw at 11 I have to report to Maryland live casino for fingerprinting and licensing and after that since there's only 2 days gonna stop at pimlico of course it's gonn rain....anybody gonna be there tnrw?!?

[wiffleball whizz]

And is there a faster more direct rt to Maryland live casino to pimlico? Don't feel like driving through the local streets so to speak

[VeryOldMan]

Welcome to Maryland!

See you at LRL, PIM, or Timonium - at this point I can't afford the ridiculously high limits on the table games at Maryland Live. Your employer might help get the minimums down enough at CT that we can meet :)

[lamboguy]

i had a great time at the Preakness. i stayed at the Waterfront Mariott. i ate at the Oceanair on Friday evening and Flemings Steak House Saturday. they were both very close to the hotel.

in Pimlico i stayed in a temporary building on the clubhouse turn. i didn't care for it to much because i couldn't see any part of the race on the backstretch, the infield tents blocked us out. the temporary building was sectioned off for private party's, next door to my suite was the MGM suite. all the food there was buffet style and there were 2 bartenders in my suite.

on Friday night Frank Stronach came to the Oceanair and he came over and said hello to me. i can't believe he remembered me from 25 years ago in Ocala. he is running for political office in Austria. the guy is over 80 and he looks great for the age.

[wiffleball whizz]

Welcome to Maryland!

See you at LRL, PIM, or Timonium - at this point I can't afford the ridiculously high limits on the table games at Maryland Live. Your employer might help get the minimums down enough at CT that we can meet :)

They are doing you a favor!!!!! Tables are a brutal invention.....dealer always has a 10 showing!!!!

[thespaah]

Total rewards is pretty good with rooms...they bury me so there smart enough to keep me coming back with nonsense buffets and whatnot....bottom line all Caesars properties got overrated buffets....

Watcing pimlico yesterday I had a whole new view on the place....but job or no job in md I think they will be done in a few weeks for the year
Well here's an "old view of the place...Just found this photo I took in early spring 1986

[cj's dad]

And is there a faster more direct rt to Maryland live casino to pimlico? Don't feel like driving through the local streets so to speak

Sorry, just now saw this.

The shortest and most direct route is as follows:

Md.97 North to Md. 695 West (Baltimore Beltway) to Rt. 295 (Balt-Wash. parkway) North. As you approach Baltimore you will see Ravens stadium on the right. Get in the right lane and turn right on Hamburg St. You will pass in front of Ravens stadium (M&T Bank Stadium). Proceed approximately 4 blocks to Charles St. intersection (dead end) and you will have to go left or right. Turn left on Charles st. This street will take you through downtown for about 5-6 miles; it's a pretty quick trip. You will eventually come to I-83 North. Take that about 5-6 miles to Northern Parkway west (the 2nd of the two exits by that name. This will lead you directly to the track.

[wiffleball whizz]

Thanks cj dad just got here....zero excuse waking up 4am driving 4 hours to md live then treck in a squall to get here for the 7th!!!!

This place is off the hook!!!!

[wiffleball whizz]

Absolutely stunned that every food stand is opened downstairs....you don't see that anymore..

And if u go up the escalator the vanilla soft serve ice cream is out of this world....

And if u like being close up to the action place is as good as any in that regard...right on top of the action here