[asudevil]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Didn't they have an 'alabi dinner' before the Preakness every year? Where every trainer would concoct excuses for why they lost before the race?

A present-day Preakness tradition, the Alibi Breakfast, which seems to grow larger every year, was founded in the Old Clubhouse. The late Vaughn Flannery, an artist who painted many scenes of Pimlico, is credited with proposing the Alibi Table in the corner of the Clubhouse. The table was set up early each morning during race meetings, by order of Joe Stevens, Sr. Trainers, racing officials and other guests dropped by during training hours for coffee and a food snack, and swapped racing stories. Many tales involved details of losing bets, hence the name—Alibi Table. Attendance grew over the years. Now 500 or more have breakfast at Pimlico on the Friday morning before the Preakness