My makeup is dry

and it clags on my chin
I'm drownin' my sorrows in whiskey and gin
The lion tamer's whip doesn't crack anymore
The lions, they won't fight and the tigers won't roar ( Dave Davies)

i must admit is was a little sad watching the Preakness stakes yesterday, even though i had picked Seize the Grey and was delighted to see Mister D Wayne Lukas win again.

The sadness came from watching the onetime great event slide into the pit of irrelevance.

The Baltimore Sun said the track refused to release the attendance figures but they estimated the crowd as approx 40,000....i looked it up......when me and Rocco were there in 1991 they had 96,000.

In 91 they had a stage in the center of the infield and the radio station had local rock bands play short sets in between races......you could bring coolers onto the infield and beach chairs......it was predominantly college aged kids having a blast and it really had the vibe of all day keg party in the sun.....vendors walked around selling black eyed Susan cocktails and topless chicken fights were the Coed special of the day....

Strange tidbit.....this week the State of Maryland announced the sale of $400 million in bonds to gut and renovate Pimlico racetrack.....they are going to close next May after the 150th running on the Preakness and expect to reopen for the race in May 2027.

Belmont Park as we know is closed for the same renovation, the Stakes will be held in Saratoga for this and next years race. The entire grandstand is being taken down and track and infield are being redesigned to the tune of $455 million.

This on the heels of Churchill Downs spending $200 million to redevelop the Paddock, and another $300 million for a hotel/casino on the grounds.

all this for a dying industry....what am i missing ?  I understand that sportsbooks have pumped money and life into the industry, but if everyone bets on their phones and nobody goes to the track (except once a year) do they really need to build a Taj Mahal around the oval ?

Let's all drink to the death of a clown

So won't someone help me to break up this crown?
Let's all drink to the death of a clown