Every sports fan knows there are two Opening Days in Baltimore ? the one at Camden Yards ? and the one yesterday at Pimlico.
On a bright, breezy 80-degree afternoon, 6,000 or so spectators welcomed the horses and jockeys back from the winter season at Laurel. Pimlico?s Spring Meet, with daily fields racing Thursdays through Sundays, lasts until June 10.
“Today?s the day you come to work with a bounce in your step,” said Michael Gathagan, vice president of communications for the Maryland Jockey Club. “They exercise the horses here year-round, but now you can feel the intensity ? it?s 30 days until Preakness.
The star Thursday was an 18-year-old apprentice jockey named Rosie Napravnik, who picked up the 100th win of her rookie year in the first race atop Online To Go. She added No. 101 in the second race with Hounddogman.
Napravnik has more than $3 million in winnings this year ? of which she receives a 10 percent commission ? and is ranked among the top riders nationally in victories and earnings. She?s on the hunt for the industry?s Eclipse Award, which goes out annually to the top apprentice rider.
“I felt good today,” Napravnik said. “I am finally healthy. It was the back, then the flu and finally strep throat. I told my agent [John Faltynski] right before the first race that I felt like this was my first race, and it went just like my first race.”
Napravnik won her first professional race at Pimlico last June, running wire-to-wire.
Charles Dietz, 50, of Carney, caught the action from the picnic benches on the stretch with his mom, dad, aunt and extended family.
“I haven?t missed Opening Day in 20 years,” said Dietz, adding he had just hit the triple on the seventh race ? a photo finish won by Private Indeed, dramatically storming in front on the outside from fourth place.
“This is my first race ever,” said Kathy White, a cousin from Ashville, N.C. “The horses are beautiful. And it?s so exciting, the crowd gets so loud.”
“It?s a such a nice day,” added Eleanor Bowlin, also from North Carolina, and attending her first race. “We thought, ?Why not?? And I?ve been winning every race.”
Opening Day turned out just perfect for the favorites ? like Napravlink?s first two mounts ? and beginners, too.
