Not decadent, nor depraved

"Tessa Paris of Ashburn, Va., reads the odds of a race in the grandstand during the 134rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., Saturday, May, 16, 2009."

What can I say, Preakness was not the same. Simply put, the drunken debauchery was held to a minimum.

Hunter S. Thompson once said, “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved” and I was under the impression that after being to two previous Preakness events that the three big horse races were the same way.

Wild people. Naked revelers. Fights. Flying beer cans. Passed out patrons. One big party. Etc. Etc.

However, new for 2009, Preakness management decided to ban all outside alcohol. In past years, college kids and other infielders would bring 30 30-packs of beer just for them and their 10 friends. Inner city kids would literally lug all these folks beer and stuff in shopping carts for some tips.

In other words, the infield was out of control. But a photographers paradise.

After walking into the infield when I got there, no one was there. It was quite, tame and aside from this drunken guy and one fight during ZZ Top; I really didn't see anything out of the norm.

I ended up sticking around the grandstands most of the time. The day was long and I don't have much to report on it other than I was thoroughly disappointed in the entire event. I can only hope that the sanctuary we photographers call the infield will be returned to its normal state in coming years.

AND... as you can probably notice, I am still playing catch up. I shot a lot of cool stuff in May. Stay tuned.