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New Booze Law Causes Preakness Race War

Posted May 17th 2009 7:00AM by TMZ Staff

The Preakness StakesOver 30,000 people protested The Preakness Stakes' new drinking rules this weekend -- and by protested, we mean they just stayed home and got drunk instead.

The race formerly known as "The Freakness" -- an all-day drunk-off for race fans -- was dealt a huge blow following a new alcohol law prohibiting fans from bringing their own booze to the race.

How big of a blow? According to the Washington Post, attendance this year went down from 112,222 to 77,850 -- despite the park still offering 16 ounce beers for $3.50.

We're gonna go out on a limb here, and say this video of the infamous "Preakness Running of Urinals 2008" had something to do with the decision.





Tags: attendance, booze, preakness stakes, preakness stakes 2009, PreaknessStakes, PreaknessStakes2009

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1. f1rst! just like rachel alexandra...

Posted at 1:39PM on May 17th 2009 by Sam

2. Looks like a day to remember....or not!.....

Posted at 3:28PM on May 17th 2009 by Will

3. BOOM HEADSHOT!!!

Posted at 3:52PM on May 17th 2009 by Wetodid

4. the thing is, preakness infield is not at all related to horse racing. people have gotten out on the field and chased horses, people have actually hit the horses with beer cans before. for the safety of the horses, the move was a good thing. and comeon, 16 oz beer for $3.50 isnt bad compared to most events!

Posted at 4:59PM on May 17th 2009 by baltimore gal

5. That's pure white trash. "Hey ya'll, I gots me a great idear. Let's run on them there's toilets and get cans thrown at us!"

Posted at 6:50PM on May 17th 2009 by Mandy

6. Hahaha the first kid is in my fraternity, the second kid who flexes is another one of my friends

Posted at 12:49AM on May 18th 2009 by Anon

7. I for one am glad to see this...Want a frat party..Go to a Frat. Its a horse race...Screw these assholes...who needs them!

Posted at 8:08AM on May 18th 2009 by SamIAM

8. Number 6....I bet you are so proud....Your friends are assholes.

Posted at 8:09AM on May 18th 2009 by SamIAM

9. Men are so stupid.

Posted at 9:51AM on May 18th 2009 by deleta

10. Best thing that could have happened. Most of the trash that attended the past Preakness races just went to get drunk. They could care less about the race. Now after the race it's less drunkin azzholes on the streets .

Way to go RACHEL ALEXANDRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You go girl.........................now's it off to the Belmont!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 9:00AM on May 18th 2009 by when pigs flu? I mean fly....

11. Like many others we watched it elsewhere. We drove to delaware park and watched it, and drank our own beer there.

Posted at 9:59AM on May 18th 2009 by freakyness

12. you know....or it could be the economy.....people making a killing off beer and other food/beverages at concerts, sporting events and all that has to stop

Posted at 10:59AM on May 18th 2009 by xxx

13. Come on people! The reason for the new law is because of people being hurt in the infield last year by drunks as well as the cops having to arrest several people for public lewdness, assault, etc. This was the best move that the owners of Pimlico and the State of Maryland could have ever made! Really, who did the race lose? A bunch of frat boys and losers who just wanted to be there to get drunk, not people who wanted to be there to watch the race. Pimlico was better off without the lot of them!

Posted at 10:50AM on May 18th 2009 by Racing Fan

14. That wasnt 2008 it was 2007. Last year they spaced them out so you couldnt run across them anymore. Its also a Maryland tradition to go to Preakness. If youre not from Maryland you dont get it. Its sad that theres a new drinking rule. It changes everything.

Posted at 12:33AM on May 19th 2009 by Meghan Hessler