Pimlico's Preakness Weekend Packs a Punch

Each of America's classic races "own their weekend" so to speak, stacking their programs with a quiver of graded stakes for horse people and horseplayers alike. Even amid a pandemic and the delayed dates of this year's Triple Crown, the New York Racing Association and Churchill Downs pretty much proceeded with their traditional cards to back up the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), respectively.

The Maryland Jockey Club, which hosts the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Oct. 3 rather than May 16, was in a bit of a tight spot. The first weekend of October also kicks off Keeneland's Fallstars weekend with its bevy of grade 1 races, along with several Breeders' Cup preview races at Belmont Park.

However, MJC president and general manager Sal Sinatra, marketing director (and former racing secretary) Georganne Hale, and racing secretary Jillian Tullock doubled down, carding an all-stakes card Preakness Day, along with three stakes Oct. 1 and the historic Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) Oct. 2.

Instead of a scramble for horses, the MJC's three-day run might be the most impressive programs they've had in years. In addition, the Oct. 2 card includes $400,000 worth of Claiming Crown preview races.

"We all sat together: Sal, Georganne, and myself, and went over the stakes for the year looking at what stakes we might be able to skip due to COVID situation," Tullock said. "We looked at the ones we really wanted to run. Given the issues everyone is having with purse money, we have to be careful what we are spending."

Since we weren't really going to be having a 'Black-Eyed Susan' Day (the day before the Preakness), we decided to put 12 stakes on Preakness day," she said. "And it was Sal who brought up the idea for the Claiming Crown preview day. He did that with Mike Lakow down at Gulfstream Park, so we figured that would be a good idea.

"Given that it's fall now, we can't run as late as we normally do in May. We ended up putting the three stakes on Thursday and the Pimlico Special on Friday, to give the other two days a little 'umph' and run as many stakes a possible over the Preakness weekend."

Races traditionally run at Laurel Park deeper in the fall were moved to Preakness Day, races such as the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G3) that drew a field of eight, the Selima Stakes for 2-year-old fillies (field of eight), and the Laurel Futurity for 2-year-olds (a field of 10). Stalwarts such as the grade 3 Gallorette Stakes (G3T), Hill Top Stakes, and James W. Murphy Stakes return to early fall from mid-May.

The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) features four graded stakes winners, and the Preakness has drawn Derby winner Authentic and a host of worthy challengers. Getting sizable fields for the other stakes was no easy feat for Tullock.

"There are always challenges," she said. "Trainers nominate everywhere and they wait to see where everybody goes, and some people's decision is based on who is in the race. Others want to stay home and not travel, and I'm sure with the COVID situation, the travel is more of an influence than anything.

"I was pleasantly surprised; I didn't know what to expect. I'm pretty proud of the weekend we've been able to pull together. We didn't know what to expect."

Tullock's task was made a bit easier by her longstanding relationship with horsemen in the Midlantic region. She served as Hale's assistant for 24 years until late last year.

"They made some changes and I ended up leaving and I went to the National Steeplechase Association as their racing manager," Tullock said. "I was there for all of about four months before Sal called to see if I'd come back as the racing secretary.

"I started March 1 and we ran two weeks and then shut down (due to COVID-19). It's been interesting. I feel good it was me (in this position) because I wasn't brand new and knew how things ran. I think it was advantageous that it was me being able to be here during the whole shutdown. We didn't run for 10 weeks."

While her position was a smooth transition, it's not without its perks: "Your phone rings a lot more at home when you are the racing secretary rather than the assistant," she said with a laugh.

The mood is as light as the expected crowd this weekend, but a national television audience and wagering via simulcast and advance deposit wagering will bring the Preakness to the people.

"I hope everybody tunes in and enjoys the races," she said. "I think the Black-Eyed Susan and the Preakness are two really good races."