Pimlico Special
 

Does anyone have any info on whether this race still exists?

I went to the outdated Maryland website and found nothing. I know it was eliminated in recent years and reinstated again.

I think it would be an ideal race for Zenyatta to meet Rachel.1 3/16 distance against a top quality field in the middle of May, big purse and a race with a prestigious history.

Thoughts ?

Given the current state of the Maryland tracks (they're due to be auctioned off next month), I don't think any sort of decision on the stakes schedule has been made. Considering it has been cut multiple times for financial reasons, I wouldn't anticipate it making a return this year.

That said, the race was made to order for a Zenyatta-Rachel Alexandra showdown.

Lone Star Park should think about throwing some money down for a race. They run several stakes Memorial Day weekend. Mattress Mac (who's more associated with Houston) might get involved. Asmussen has connections there obviously, and the ship isn't substantial from CA, so it seems a reasonable venue for all parties involved.

The Maryland Jockey Club is actually making a push to have the Special as the RA vs. Zenyatta race.

Here's the facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...0642362&ref=mf

this would be a mistake in my opinion. that place is all screwed up! i drove down for the preakness. it was 75 bucks to park your car, only 45 in the less perferred lot! the track is kind of a dump to begin with and in need of all kinds of work. in my opinion they should have it somewhere else.....that place is dying a slow death why extend it?

I don't remember if they ran it last year, but if not, then expect to see it this year. We're talking about graded stakes status right? I thought they can't skip it more than once without losing it (or risking that status possibly?) if I remember correctly. It's almost as if they are halving the cost by doing it this way, and they get to keep a G1. Should it draw RA/Z they might bring it back sooner assuming it wasn't going to be up this year. Playing it by ear, etc.

Kind of a dump? :D

I'm thinking they would opt for another track since Calvin said that Rachel didn't handle that track as well as others after the Preakness.

$75 to park your car at Pimlico? Someone got completed bamboozled by the locals. You can buy a parking pass for the Heyward lot a week before the Preakness for $40. The track itself isn't exactly exciting, but parking isn't my chief complaint by any stretch.

I went to Pimlico for the first time last year the week after the Preakness and really didn't see it as the dump or s.hithole that everyone made it out to be. The paddock is horrendous, but I'm not much of a horse watcher prior to them getting on the track anyway and the outdoor seats on the 2nd floor apron are comfortable and give you a nice enough view. The 3rd floor didn't seem to be too horrendous either.

I think it'd be a fine place for RA and Z to square off, though I'm pulling more for something in NY.

NT

Don't forget the Chickasaw Nation now has Lone Star and they definately have the money and resources to pull it off. The track doesn't have the prestige of a Bemont park or Churchill,etc. but it did host one they better Breeders Cups in the 2000's, IMO