Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

PomDeTerre — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:13:32 GMT

pathetic- simply pathetic.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Criminal Type — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:52:42 GMT

Many of you have made good points. I am a Marylander and have attended the Preakness at least 20 times. It has changed dramatically from the mid-70s till now. I was there for Affirmed and Alydar, Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, Spectacular Bid, Street Sense, Curlin, Hard Spun. They didn't need any cheesy tasteless gimmicks then and they sure as hell don't need this pathetic rendering of an alcoholic centaur now.

The Preakness was, in my day, the mid 70s and early 80s a kind of rite of passage. No youth's party experiences were complete until that drunken weekend in Ocean City after graduation and the infield at Preakness. I am sure the choice of the mare's body had a lot to do with not offending anyone with balls.

Everything I've heard about Kegasus has to do with bringing back the drinkers and thus, hopefully the dollars. However, Pimlico will still not allow you to BYOB as it was until 2010. But, once you get there, You pay 20 bucks for a plastic mug and you can refill it all day. I dunno about you, but when I was 20 I could drink 20 bucks worth of beer easy. So, pretty good deal really if that's your thing.

I am wondering how much, if any, input 98Rock had with this campaign since they sponsor the entertainment. While I have left the intensity and insanity of the infield behind as I have gotten older (and smarter) and now sit in the grandstand, I do love the show. There is nothing like watching a sunburned group of intoxicated 20 somethings trying to navigate their way across Northern Parkway after the race. I also now spend more money at the window.

Alex'sBigfan, this campaign has been in the works long before PrePeg was even on the radar. But I get your point.

Robin, this campaign did not start in Annapolis. It was the MJC's stupidity with no help needed from the Statehouse. As I stated before, I think 98Rock had a lot of input.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

needler in Virginia — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:52:34 GMT

Moodygirl, new does NOT equate to tasteless. I know you wish it did, but it only means "new." I'm one of "those hippies" and have no problem AT ALL with fun, but this promo isn't even marginally fun OR funny. It's just trashy, and the idea of providing transport for those too blitzed to drive? The entire East Coast rapid transit system would drown under the load, thus losing any profits from all the money the drunks left at the track. ... if, indeed, there were one extra dollar bet by those too trashed to stand or even crawl.

Nope, new is absolutely fine, it's after all ... new. But lowlife and base is not new; it's just sad that anyone would think it equates to a good thing.

Cheers and safe trips ... I think. ...

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Alex'sBigFan — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:06:54 GMT

Did they not consider that Derby contender Premier Pegasus may make it to the Preakness Stakes and isn't this centaur's name an insult to Premier Pegasus? I'm all for "cool" as I am on the cusp of this age demographic but I think they should be marketing and promoting the horses as well and challenging the young males, if that is their target group, to wagering promotions instead of this.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

moodygirl — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:29:48 GMT

Gee Whiz! I remember how the over-40 crowd lashed out at those Hippies. Sounds kind of familiar here. I think the word "anal" fits many of the comments here. Look it up in the slang dictionary if you don't know what it means. I was thinking some kind of transportation could be offered to those too trashed to drive, kind of like New Year's Eve or the 4th in some cities. Something they might could also pay for. Yes it's tasteless but it is a new world we are living in, and look how the hippies turned into old fuddy duddies.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Sunny Farm — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:53:18 GMT

That KEGASUS is a real party animal!

By golly, that man is built like a horse!

He does need his own facebook page!

A Centaur is a mythical creature, a luminal being caught between the two natures.

A Centaur is the embodiment of Un-tamed nature, chaos and Un-bridled PASSION. He is known to be faithful, have prophecy and perform healing.

These are NOT sexist thoughts, and yes, there are female centaurs.

I like the infield idea and to attend would be a lot of fun, especially if the beer prices are reasonable.

I see nothing wrong with enjoying a great party in the infield. (After a long winter, I am IN!)

As others have written, there are the grandstands for the serious horseplayers. Now, where can I obtain a poster? That sunset or sunrise in the poster has PASSION!

ENJOY LIFE -YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.

p.s. I would love to own a Centaur, just think how helpful he could be around the stables, having thumbs but the strength of a horse. He'd make a great horse trainer, too!

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Lil Darlin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:25:33 GMT

Uzuri - No disrespect intended, I am part of that demo as well. I take myself way too seriously working 7 days a week, so when I saw Kegasus I jumped on the opportunity to have a long overdue laugh!

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Jim P — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 01:47:31 GMT

First they banned drinking in the infield; then attendance dropped. Now they promote drinking -- nothing like raising your liability! Sorry, this makes the industry look bad and reinforces for many that the track is no place to go.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

needler in Virginia — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:02:14 GMT

Wow, who knew racing needed the barely legal (we can only hope for the legal crowd, but I wouldn't hold my breath, guys) eejits who enjoy getting blasted, getting naked and running into a field of racing horses? Now that I consider it, though, that's EXACTLY what racing needs.

Is there anyone out there who missed my enthusiasm for this particular "promo"? If so, you should remember that I majored in Irony in college and graduated with a degree in the subject.

As I said before......cheers and safe trips to almost everyone.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Rachel — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:17:38 GMT

Yup, let's promote a booze fest frat party to an infield of idiot drunks and then merrily dump them out on the road to drive home...

Responsibility, class ... the Preakness is not thy name.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Somethingroyal — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:54:18 GMT

What an insult to a sport with so much history and rich in tradition. When did all of that stop being important? I wish there was a head-shaking icon to display.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Uzuri — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:30:48 GMT

Hey -- don't dis the 20-40 yos. I'm a member of that demographic, and while I try not to take myself too seriously, there's still a line to be drawn and Kegasus just flew over it.

But then, I don't bet, either, so I'm not the kind of fan horse racing wants.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Truls Engebretsen — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:25:32 GMT

Anyone who doesn't think this is a good move must know something about the state of horse racing in Maryland (and the U.S. really) that the industry does not. The fact is Maryland horse racing is on life support and the ban on BYOB in infield was the nail in the coffin for the Preakness in Maryland. The race will never be the same, and neither will the revenue from it, but at least this ad campaign (however bad it looks) is making an attempt to reach out to the college community/Baltimore area and let people know the Preakness is "cool" again.

I dont think any real horseplayers WON'T attend Preakness 2011 due to this ad campaign, so every extra person in the infield corresponds to additional marginal profit for MD racing. Probably a poor example, but racing in Europe has been utilizing these gimmicks for years, and, although some tracks are definitely struggling same as here, the standing of the sport is much higher than in America, and has not been hurt by an attempt to generate revenue from young males who like to drink.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Brian Russell — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:15:12 GMT

To all the posters that feel racing should be marketing to families, I would like to ask why? Minors are not legally able to bet and the parents have to spend their time and money on their minors. Politically correct or not, the young single male is the demographic racing must cultivate as they have, bar far, the highest probability of becoming regular horseplayers (even if their probability is not that high).

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Will in Virginia — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:01:16 GMT

Simply stated, MJC is placing marketing muscle behind the wrong thing. IMHO, they should be marketing the horses. After all, they are the "Jockey Club," not a beer company. As several mentioned above, it is unlikely that kids looking for a party will be looking for a betting window. I'm sorry to say I am not a fan of this new "Kegasus" campaign. It appeals to the lowest common denominator, rather than attempting to lift our sport up.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Melissa — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:50:57 GMT

You just can't cure stupid.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Sistah — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:48:12 GMT

The infield is a party for people who want an excuse to party. Why not make the most of it. And let's look at the big picture: My bet is that 1/4 the crowd on the apron at some point attended the infield or similar situation and it got them interested in the sport itself. It's the same with Nascar, football and other "tailgate" or "fest" type activities.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Robin from Maryland — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:35:36 GMT

I'm not sure I really like it either. Too bad that in a few years MD racing will be a has been. The only time that Pimlico has any backside activity is the few weeks surrounding the Preakness. Pimlico sits empty the rest of the year. MD messed up racing when the slots bill took too long--most horsemen have gone outside the state for the bigger purses. Then, they ban alcohol from the infield--brillant!!!Now,we have Kegasus--STUPID!!! How is this going to promote MD racing? It's not. We can all thank the FOOLS in Annapolis. Soon we here in MD won't have to worry about any Preakness mascot, cause the Preakness will be run somewhere else. And that my friends will truly be the worst day in racing for MD.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Jason Shandler — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:18:40 GMT

Kegasus looks like Kenny Powers from Eastbound & Down.

The campaign is fine. Why people get so worked up over such stupid things is beyond me. Ironic, however, that this is the same track that banned alcohol two years ago. What a boneheaded move that was. Looks like they learned their lesson.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:05:21 GMT

This is a travesty. I find it appalling that the Sport of Kings is being reduced to marketing of this low caliber. The mascot is a ludicrous burlesque image that cheapens the sport. I wholeheartedly agree with the Maryland lawmaker, this is very tasteless. This is a desperate attempt at attracting the wrong kind of people to the sport, who in turn will not generate revenue or anything else for it other than shame. Market to the very young, yes, but not by contributing to them becoming alcoholics. There is a whole market of young kids and women out there; how unfortunate this marketing staff can't capture it with dignity and class.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

backside sweetie — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:25:01 GMT

I think this is disgusting and a huge insult to the people that work in the racing world. We are proud of our occupation and work hard 24/7, 365 days a year. We love and admire the beautiful horses that we share our lives with and would rather try to get more families to come to the races rather than a bunch of drunken fools showing their private parts ,practically having sex on the ground and throwing up on each other. Most of them don't even realize there are horses there, and they certainly are not going to be betting as they would rather buy another beer!!! Whoever thought this was a good campaign to introduce new people to horser acing should spend an hour on the infield. This is not a good idea. I also remember the drunk in the middle of the track on Preakness Day. Is this really what we need to make money?

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

vegasvixen — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:06:36 GMT

The drinks go along with the drugs. Handicapping is a waste of time these days since the race outcomes don't show any relation to a horse's past perfromances. Go ahead--drink a lot, bet a little.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

Lil Darlin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:04:07 GMT

Rock on, Kegasus! We need to get you your own reality TV show on VH1 or MTV! Honestly, though, look at today's TV programming, commercials, movie comedies (Old School anyone?)...some may not like it, but the 20-40 demographic doesn't seem to want entertainment that takes itself too seriously. If Kegasus convinces them to get sweet relief from the 9-5 grind by going to Pimlico, I say go for it!

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

JerseyTom — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:00:18 GMT

I think some of you folks are missing the point: You don't have to participate in the infield festivities. There is plenty of room at Pimlico for concentrating on the races, which is why most people are there. My guess is the MJC has spent a decent amount of money on this ad campaign, which quite frankly many racetracks wouldn't--and haven't--done. Give them a little credit for trying different things. This is 2011. Be bold.

re: Pass the Keg ... and Make a Bet While You're Here

photobill — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:38:59 GMT

Is it male or female? Kegasus looks like a male but the horse is female. Maybe we can have people marry their pets on the infield this year. Baltimore, glad i don't live there anymore.