From the archive | Hands

"An unidentified person is dragged over a railing by security after a fight breaks out in the infield before the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday, May 16, 2009."

Preakness is an amazing event held in Baltimore every year. While things used to be wildly out of control, its since been tamed.

The last year I shot, of recent was, in 2009 when things really changed.

Drunken debauchery, fighting and other wild antics which usually occurred infield was sparse due to ban of bringing in outside alcohol. Horse racing fan attendance dropped 7.5 percent according to track officials.

I remember the infield being pretty much empty. It wasn't until I decided to shoot some of the ZZ Top concert that some fighting occurred.

For a brief minute it felt like the old days that are long gone. I wonder what this year will bring.