thought I\'d pass this on ...
those of you who were there on site - at one of the gate entrances, the religious zealots were having a field day, so I (jesuit educated race fan) could not resist asking them who Jesus had in the trifecta...you would not believe the expression on the barkers face! I can only tell you that between that and the photo of AA hitting his knee (s), Eclipse Awards are made of these...
BTW - Pimlico did the best job I have ever seen on organization for those who paid good money - no lines for food, drink, wagers,...similar to ARL for BC a few yrs back...well done, MEC (makes up for BC fiasco at LS).
How do you explain the bugler then? You call that first class? It was an embarrassment to racing and most of all to trumpet players.
Maryland racing just doesn\'t get it. Image is everything these days and when you send in a drunk bugler to perform the middle leg of the triple crown in front of 115,000 live patrons and millions more on TV and simulcasting, you send a negative message.
I emailed Pimlico about this 2 months ago and you know what their reply was? \"Your email was nasty. Nasty, nasty, nasty. You must be a nasty person.\"
Yeah, say good night to the bad guy.
Hey MO,
Was that what happened? I thought his lips got stuck!!
the bugler? missed it...that\'s Joe Kelly, I think (but thought he he retired)...fill me in.
After the traditional call to the post he
continued into some type of rendition of a jazzed up \"Beale Street Blues\". This solo was longer than the original version. I gather from MO\'s post that it may have been
alcohol induced. He must have stayed in the \"short line\" for drinks all day!
He supposedly retired at the Breeders Cup in Chicago but apparently has the Preakness gig \"until he dies\", quoting a reliable source at Pimlico.
When I became a track bugler, I replaced an older guy who was getting booed on a regular basis. I resolved right then and there that if I ever began to sound that bad, I\'d put the horn back in its case and find another line of work.
MO,
From what I heard on Saturday, it would behoove him to follow your logic.
Thank you. There\'s hope then, that at least 1 person in the world can hear without the aid/or interference thereof a hearing aid.
At this point in time, its no secret that I would like to have the gig, but if I must be the sacrificial lamb, hire a high school kid. He or she would be a marked improvement.
I like the way that old guy plays the horn. Just MO