Review: Kentucky Derby Day at Pimlico

Unbeknownst to me and the public at large, Pimlico Race Course (5201 Park Heights Avenue, Pimlico Good Neighbors) started putting on a Kentucky Derby Day party last year on the apron, which apparently did well enough that they decided to have a secondary Derby Day party in the infield this year. The infield party was $30 and included all you can drink beer (Bud, Miller Lite, Dos Equis, Heineken, cash for liquor) and music as performed by local cover band Sons of Radio, with headliner being Chicago-based Plain White T’s. Sounds pretty ok, right? I mean, at least the beer part…

And actually, it was a lot of fun. Inherently fun in hanging out on a nice day in the grass and getting hammered on cheap beer while betting on races and occasionally craning your neck while watching horses run by, that kind of fun. But, despite apparently being advertised on the radio and getting a nod from City Paper, the attendance was how we say, “Abysmal.” Don’t believe me? Check out this photo of the infield at or around 3:30pm, just prior to the Plain White T’s taking the stage:

PACKED. Not only that, but Groupon actually had a special for half off admission, which last I checked nearly 500 folks had purchased. I don’t even think there were 500 people there when we finally wandered over to the apron to catch some shade…. and attend the other event being held for Derby Day.

Wait, another event you say? Why yes! A second, $30 event with all you can drink beer from local breweries (Heavy Seas, etc among them) situated on the apron, but no Plain White T’s – shucks. Last year the party was apron-only with a live band, and I could see why the organizers might want to expand said party to the infield – but a second, mutually exclusive event is pretty confusing and seeing as how not many people I know had heard of either event, they probably could have used this year to build the apron crowd up a little more before going whole hog with the infield. Take notes, promoters and organizers!

That being said we still had a really good time of it, at this point I would consider Derby Day to be a “best kept secret” until/if word gets out enough and the event gets retardo-crowded like Preakness had been historically. But realistically that’ll probably never happen, so put it in your calendars folks! Derby Day 2012, all you can drink beer for $30.