Its Official: The Terrorists have won

On the third Saturday in May, generations of Baltimoreans marched onto the infield at Pimlico Race Course with their coolers in tow, an image that helped define the Preakness Stakes.

No longer.

The Maryland Jockey Club has unveiled enhanced security plans for the 138th Preakness Stakes in the wake of recent deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon. And coolers are among the casualties.

Fans will be subject to electronic wand searches at all gates for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on May 17 and the Preakness on May 18. They will not be allowed to carry backpacks or duffel bags into the races and only smaller, see-through-plastic containers will be permitted. Other newly banned items include laser lights and cameras with detachable lenses or lenses longer than six inches.


Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/preakness/bal-maryland-jockey-club-announces-modified-security-policies-for-138th-preakness-20130430,0,284167.story#ixzz2S2DW8e8p

Understand now, what your day consists of preparing for a trip to the infield..

leaving your house at 6am, Pimlicos gates open at 7am.
Preakness doesnt get run until 6:30 pm.
That means buying everything, from food, beverage, snacks at the track.

In my younger years Ive attended atleast 10 Preakness Day events, from the infield, to recently owners passes that I got thru my customers at UPS..They should just cancel it

Personally, I'm sure the terrorist bombing had 50% to do with this. Buying everything else and cutting down on the debauchery in the infield accounts for the rest...

They did this at the Indy 500 track years ago. Not quite to the same extent, but what happens now, is a far cry from my awakening after a beer and Jack Daniels induced "nap" to a group of streakers jumping over my prone carcass...

All done in the name of family entertainment... I'm thinking quite a few families were started in that infield over the years...

Im positive the terrorist had 100% to do with this decision, carry bags, backpacks, maybe, but forbidding a cooler with sandwiches and beverages, thats just over the line.

I was at the Preakness in 1978 for our last triple crown winner..Didnt see a horse the entire day, took 2 alcohol induced naps that day..

but I was there.

Just watch the news and you will see Seattle is crawling with idiots calling it a protest as they go downtown and break windows and all the rest of their typical left-wing loon BS several times a year and May 1st is one of those days.

If I was over there it would be hard to keep me from punching these 21st century hippies in the face one by one.