Sinatra believes the middle leg of the Triple Crown is better served selling greatness like JustifyGETTY IMAGES
Maryland Jockey Club President & GM Sal Sinatra "expects Preakness ticket sales to rise" as a result of unbeaten favorite Justify winning the Kentucky Derby, according to Tim Sullivan of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Sinatra "believes the middle leg of the Triple Crown is better served selling greatness than novelty." Sinatra: "We were sitting pretty flat with last year with ticket sales. I expect a little jump, more than if a 100-1 shot had won the Derby in the mud. I think the people want to see the outstanding athlete." Sullivan notes the Preakness has "set attendance records in each of the last four years, at least partially because of the cachet of Derby winners California Chrome, American Pharoah, Nyquist and Always Dreaming -- all of them odds-on choices at Pimlico" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/8). DAILY RACING FORM's Jay Privman noted the Preakness field this year "figures to be considerably smaller, quite likely in the single digits." Of the Derby runners, only Bravazo, who finished sixth, "was certain" for the Preakness in addition to Justify. Only Good Magic "was being seriously considered" (DRF.com, 5/6).
EXTRA SERVICE: DAILY RACING FORM's Jim Dunleavy noted the "most noticeable changes" at Pimlico Race Course, which "begins a 12-day meet Thursday, will benefit those Preakness attendees who use electronic devices." Last year's Preakness "drew an announced crowd of 140,327." That "takes a lot of bandwidth." Sinatra said that track owner The Stronach Group has spent $1.5M to "superchange the wifi at Old Hilltop." Sinatra: "Everyone in the infield and grandstand will have free wifi." Sinatra said that there "will be no more 'flopping tents' in the infield, that all of the facilities now are 'hard structures.'" This will "allow those taking in the races from the infield to have better sight lines and be more comfortable, especially if the weather turns bad." He added that the musical acts "will perform on a 'megastage,' which will be 60 feet high and include a state-of-the art light show." There will be "one stage this year, instead of two." Entertainment will be "non-stop" from about 9:30am-6:00pm ET (DRF.com, 5/7).
