Not everyone is reining in the partying, however. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, which markets the city to convention planners and associations, is ramping up an infield tent party it hosts with Hilton, Renaissance, Marriott and other large hotels in the city.
"We're doing even more this year," said association president Tom Noonan. "We've got 95 tickets in the Corporate Village, with 50 to 60 going to convention-planning customers."
Noonan said BACVA has successfully used the Preakness as a backdrop to cement convention deals with EMS Today, the National Association of College Admission Counseling, the Firehouse Expo, and the National Recreation and Park Association. Together, those four deals represent more than 33,000 hotel room bookings - well worth the investment in a catered infield party, BACVA officials say.
"Let's say this event costs $50,000, and we see one booking [from it] that brings in $5 million," Noonan said. "That's money well spent."
But during a recession, when companies are slashing expenses and laying off workers, wining and dining prospective customers can pose public-relations challenges.
Chuckas said some companies opted out of parties this year to avoid appearing frivolous. And Fern Sugar, a Pikesville florist who supplies arrangements for Preakness events, said she and other vendors had been told not to disclose the hosts of corporate receptions.
"Pimlico said to keep it quiet at this point," said Sugar, owner of Belles Fleurs Inc.
"They want to avoid negative perceptions," said David Warshawski, who runs a Baltimore-based public relations and marketing firm. "Right now, the common sentiment is that companies are afraid that spending money on something that may be perceived as frivolous during a recession sends the wrong message to their target audience."
Despite a wintry economy, horse racing boosters see sunnier days ahead for Maryland's industry and its crown jewel.
Magna recently announced its intention to pull the race out of a proposed bankruptcy auction this summer, bringing relief to state officials worried about another Colts-like exodus of a beloved sports franchise.
Racing Commission Chairman John Franzone believes that track subsidies from slot revenues will boost the industry's fortunes. And Chuckas said that with the Kentucky Derby run, all eyes will be on Baltimore for two weeks, just in time for a marketing blitz promoting the race.
In Louisville Saturday, Calvin Borel rode Mine That Bird, a 50-1 long shot, to one of the biggest upsets in the Derby's 135-year history.
To former Jockey Club owner Joseph DeFrancis, who said he had wrestled yearly with the infield alcohol policy, the big Preakness question this year is whether the prohibition on carrying in alcoholic beverages will turn away the crowds.
"We'll just have to wait and see," he said. "I think Tom [Chuckas] and the management team have done everything reasonable ... to ensure that infield-goers will have as good a time as possible. I would be hopeful that you wouldn't see too much of a decline."
