Three men whose careers put them in intimate contact with Pimlico and the Preakness -- Dave Woods, Joe Hickey and Chick Lang -- recorded their reminiscences as Preakness 100 was celebrated.
Woods was Pimlico's former publicity chief from 1937, when War Admiral won, through 1951. He noted that his "memories are more of people than horses."
Being a member of the press offered its challenges before the Alfred Vanderbilt era: "The pressbox when I went to Pimlico was a casually built structure hanging perilously from the eaves of the grandstand. It was dubbed by the half-dozen working writers the 'Crow's Nest' and, once perched there, the only means of communication with other areas was by messages passed up and down in a tin can attached to a long rope."
Among Vanderbilt's changes was a new press box with a telephone through a central switchboard, a photo finish camera, and a modern automatic starting gate.
"Alfred Vanderbilt had an affection for Pimlico and a genius for promotion; he made Pimlico a fun place. . ." said Woods.
Hickey, who headed Pimlico's publicity department from 1963-69, had earlier been an assistant editor of Turf & Sport Digest, a columnist for the Daily Racing Form and worked for years with Maryland Horse before being hired at Windfields Farm. He recalled the races, horses and their connections.
Snowden Carter's continuing article on Lang, Pimlico's general manager, ran a second month.
Leading from start to finish, *Jacko defeated *Fort Devon in one of the closest finishes in Maryland Hunt Cup history. It was the first Hunt Cup victory for 39-year-old Russell Jones of West Grove, Pa., who had ridden in four earlier runnings. He finished second with Eastmac in 1974 and Knockbawn in 1970 and third aboard Boating Party in 1966. In 1973 he was far in front aboard *Jacko before they fell at the 19th. Jones said he could have remounted and won, but the bridle had broken while the horse scrambled to his feet.
The win continued Pennsylvania's domination of the Hunt Cup since 1969, the lone exception Maryland's Early Earner in 1972.
n Maryland's racing scene was ready to shift from Pimlico to Bowie, which would run for 47 days from May 27 through July 19. It would be the first summer meeting at Bowie (management stating that its grandstand and clubhouse were fully air-conditioned), and resulted from 1974 legislation authorizing year-round racing in Maryland. Profits would be equally shared by the state's three mile tracks -- Pimlico, Laurel and Bowie. Timonium would pick up immediately after, running 42 days from July 21 through Sept. 6.
