Luxury Viewing To Be Set Up for Preakness Infield

Regular infield-goers at Pimlico will lose most of their prime view of the homestretch for the Preakness Stakes. (Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)

The roiling sea of humanity that turns the Preakness Stakes infield into one of the biggest beer bashes in the country will be joined by upscale patrons at Pimlico Race Course this year.

Taking a cue from other professional sports that increasingly cater to the wealthy, Magna Entertainment, which operates Pimlico, will offer new corporate packages, sponsorships and ticketing that emphasize luxury and exclusivity for the May 21 race.

"Like a lot of other professional sports, we see an opportunity to up-sell," said Jim Gagliano, Magna's executive vice president of Maryland racing operations. "This is the Super Bowl of racing in this region. We're trying really hard to create opportunities for people to move into more comfortable settings."

Gagliano said revelers on the 35-acre infield will have virtually the same amount of space as in the past but they will lose most of their prime view of the homestretch for the second leg of racing's Triple Crown. They can see the horses go around on the back side of the track but will watch the finish on scoreboard screens.

With the changes, Magna will:

• expand and upgrade the Preakness Village tent area in the infield, building climate-controlled "chalets" for corporate patrons. A Preakness Village luxury tent costs $34,500 with additional tents going for $28,750.

• cordon off a compound at the edge of the infield at the top of the stretch and raise 700 bleacher seats for fans, who will enjoy their own private mutuel windows, souvenir stand, restrooms and concessions. Cost: $100.

• erect clubhouse turn "sky suites" with elevated sight lines. Each $25,000 suite will accommodate 30 people in a climate-controlled, open-air environment and offer lunch, open bar and television monitors.

• offer $125 reserved seats under a canopy, also on the clubhouse turn.

• expand infield "turf side terrace" seating along the length of the homestretch. The seating capacity has been increased from 500 seats to 1,485 at $275 per person.

"Are we reducing space? Probably, but not appreciably," Gagliano said. "We're trying really hard to create opportunities for people to move into more comfortable settings."

Magna's plans to raze and rebuild Pimlico, which first opened in 1870, got a boost yesterday when the Maryland House of Delegates narrowly passed a bill that would allow the state to hold slot machine gambling, with some profits earmarked for the horse racing industry. But the bill's future is considered tenuous because of political infighting.

Management, however, understands that on the one day it takes in $87.9 million in wagers -- compared with the average daily handle of $4.92 million -- it must maximize its earnings potential by catering to the high rollers.

Regular infield tickets without the amenities will cost $40 in advance this year, $50 the day of the race. The race-day price is $8 more than last year.