Sports & Whatever

Tag: Maryland

  • While the WNBA Fights Over Sophie Cunningham, Maryland Quietly Stays the Course

    While the WNBA Fights Over Sophie Cunningham, Maryland Quietly Stays the Course

    While Sophie Cunningham and the WNBA fight a national battle over transgender athletes, Maryland has quietly stayed the course. Five years of legislation aimed at changing the state’s girls’ sports policy have ended without a floor vote.

  • The Hand They’re Not Playing: How Maryland Can Rebuild Horse Racing After the Preakness Shake-Up

    The Hand They’re Not Playing: How Maryland Can Rebuild Horse Racing After the Preakness Shake-Up

    Maryland faces a critical moment in revitalizing the Preakness and its horse racing legacy. With options to build independent coalitions and focus on a four-race calendar, Maryland has the chance to create a significant racing framework by 2028. Immediate action is necessary to secure this future and leverage its unique assets.

  • Nine Minutes. One Question.

    Nine Minutes. One Question.

    The press conference by CDI and NYRA lasted only nine minutes, addressing their new Thoroughbred Championship Series, which excludes Maryland’s Preakness. This prompted criticism regarding the lack of communication and potential negative impact on the Triple Crown. Maryland may face challenges if included in the series under CDI’s terms.

  • Blindsided, Again

    Blindsided, Again

    Churchill Downs announced a Thoroughbred Championship Series without including the Preakness Stakes, surprising Maryland officials who only learned of the plan through media. This follows Maryland’s $85 million acquisition of the Preakness IP. The series threatens the future of the Preakness and represents a significant strategic shift in American racing.

  • The Bet That Already Lost

    The Bet That Already Lost

    Governor Wes Moore’s $85 million investment in Preakness Stakes’ intellectual property failed as Churchill Downs built a competing championship series, omitting the Preakness. CDI strategically divested remaining Maryland properties, indicating its departure from the state. Maryland’s efforts to secure horse racing prominence were undermined, raising concerns about governance and operational competency.

  • Why FIFA Really Passed Over Baltimore — And Whether the City Has Caught Up

    Why FIFA Really Passed Over Baltimore — And Whether the City Has Caught Up

    Baltimore’s bid to host the World Cup in 2026 faced rejection in 2022, attributed to factors like inadequate transit and hotel capacity. Four years later, crime rates have significantly decreased, but hotel inventory has worsened. While transit improvements are planned, the city must address hotel shortages to strengthen future bids for international events.

  • Supreme Court Clears States to Bar Transgender Athletes From Girls’ Sports — Where Does That Leave Maryland?

    Supreme Court Clears States to Bar Transgender Athletes From Girls’ Sports — Where Does That Leave Maryland?

    The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can restrict girls’ sports teams to biological females, affecting laws in West Virginia and Idaho. This 6-3 decision allows states to define eligibility without individual assessments of transgender athletes, impacting future legislation like Maryland’s proposed “Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act.”

  • Maryland Is Trying to Buy Back a Race It Never Should Have Lost

    Maryland Is Trying to Buy Back a Race It Never Should Have Lost

    Maryland plans to spend $85 million to reacquire the Preakness Stakes brand, previously owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI). The state’s history of mismanagement raises concerns about its ability to effectively steward racing assets. CDI, with its successful track record, holds significant leverage in the negotiations.

  • If the Preakness Bet Fails, What’s Maryland’s Plan B?

    If the Preakness Bet Fails, What’s Maryland’s Plan B?

    Maryland’s $400 million investment in Pimlico aims to preserve the Preakness but lacks a broader strategic vision for sports. While other events like the CIAA Tournament and Maryland Cycling Classic show economic potential, Maryland should develop diverse sporting identities, including lacrosse and sailing, to enhance its public profile and economy.

  • What $400 Million Bought: Mapping the Prestige Gap Between the Masters, the Derby, and the Preakness

    What $400 Million Bought: Mapping the Prestige Gap Between the Masters, the Derby, and the Preakness

    The Preakness Stakes faces significant challenges compared to the Kentucky Derby and The Masters, particularly in terms of viewership, economic impact, and event prestige. Maryland has invested heavily in Pimlico’s renovation, but to close the gap, it must enhance broadcast investment and transform Preakness week into a major destination, fostering year-round revenue.