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Baltimore, Md. (May 20, 2006) – The 131st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico
Race Course will include a reminder for fans to continue to act responsibly and respect
the rights of others while celebrating the second jewel in thoroughbred racing's Triple
Crown. The Maryland Jockey Club, Anheuser-Busch wholesaler Winner Distributing Company,
Maryland Turf Caterers and the TEAM Coalition announced today that they will implement
an action plan at Pimlico Race Course designed to encourage fans attending the Preakness
to drink responsibly and use a designated driver.
“Good Sport is a rock-solid comprehensive action plan that will help continue our
tradition of providing a wholesome, exciting, and fan-friendly environment at Pimlico,”
said Chris Dragone, General Manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. “Good
Sport is our pledge to the community that everyone attending the Preakness will have
a good time, but not at the expense of others.”
John Daue, executive vice president of Winner Distributing, says Good Sport focuses
on three areas that are key to influencing fans to act responsibly. These areas include:
- Communicating a series of messages to the public that prompt attitude changes
and remind spectators of the importance of responsible behavior. Good Sport
banners will be placed throughout the track facilities and infield grounds.
Good Sport public service announcements will run continuously at the track.
A program ad will also feature a responsibility message;
- Maryland Turf Caterers concession workers and Pimlico Race Track security
personnel are certified in TEAM Coalition, an effective alcohol management
training to prevent problems before they happen. All servers will be wearing
Anheuser-Busch “WE I.D.” buttons;
- Implementing Safe Ride to combat drunk driving. Fans will be encouraged
to choose a designated driver to ensure everyone has a safe ride home. Under
the designated driver program, one person from a group attending the event
volunteers to refrain from drinking alcohol and is responsible for providing
transportation for the rest of the group. As a reward for ensuring his/her
party gets home safely, the designated driver will receive a Preakness hat,
branded lip balm, and a key chain.
- Each fan who makes the designated driver pledge is entered into the
'Responsibility Has Its Rewards' sweepstakes. Two winners will be randomly selected
and receive a backpack full of rewards (including a t-shirt, golf shirt, and two hats)
for their responsible decision. The winners also receive grandstand tickets to the 2007 Preakness.
“We welcome the addition of Good Sport and Responsibility Has Its Rewards to provide additional support our staff can
use to make the Preakness experience even more enjoyable for fans,” noted Dragone.
“The vast majority of the thousands of fans who attend the Preakness are responsible
drinkers, and Good Sport provides Pimlico Race Course and Maryland Turf Caterers
staff with the tools necessary to prevent someone who may have had too much to drink
from driving,” added Daue.
“Being a Good Sport means everyone must join together to insure that good sense and
good times are two of the featured attractions at the Preakness,” says TEAM
Coalition Executive Director Jill Pepper. “We are proud to be part of the team
reminding all fans of the 130th running of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course to
designate a driver and always buckle up.”
Since 1982, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have invested more than a
half-billion dollars in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs
to promote responsible drinking and prevent alcohol abuse, including underage drinking
and drunk driving. For more information on these efforts and the progress being made,
visit www.beeresponsible.com.
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment
facilities, concessionaires, stadium service partners, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic
safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive
fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. For more information, visit
www.teamcoalition.org.
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TEAM Coalition members and supporters include Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer,
National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, National
Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies - Sportservice,
Contemporary Services Corporation, Beer Institute, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Miller
Brewing Company, Coors Brewing Company, National Association of Broadcasters, LiveNation,
ESPN ABC Sports, International Association of Assembly Managers, and the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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