After two years of shamelessly basking in its drunken, bro’ed-out infield culture, the Preakness Stakes is finally taking a step back toward relative classiness. Kegasus, the boozehound centaur, is being retired, and will no longer be seen enticing race fans to drink their faces off during InfieldFest.
Baltimore Business Journal reports that the Preakness is planning on introducing a new mascot, perhaps one that won’t encourage so much underage drinking:
The Maryland Jockey Club will unveil its marketing campaign for the 138th Preakness in the next few weeks, said Tom Chuckas, president of the Jockey Club. Kegasus, the beer-guzzling centaur featured prominently in advertisements for the Preakness InfieldFest during the last two years, will likely not be a part of this year’s plans, Chuckas said.
“I think we’re at a different stage with the InfieldFest,” Chuckas said on Monday. “I think the brand is much stronger.”
The Maryland Jockey Club introduced Kegasus in 2011 in hopes of enticing a bigger crowd of young sots to the middle leg of racing’s Triple Crown. A flabby half-man, half-horse drinking from a horn of ale was the perfect mascot for the party people who show up to drink $20 bottomless beers. And last year, Kegasus even got a sidekick.
Thankfully, it appears Kegasus’ days are over. Tom Chuckas, the head of the Jockey Club, tells Baltimore Business Journal it’s not entirely a done deal, but that Kegasus “has gone to the islands.” Hopefully, there, he will drink himself into a horsy stupor and never be heard from us again.
But don’t worry, bros, InfieldFest will still go forth. This year’s entertainment is being provided by Pitbull and Macklemore featuring Ryan Lewis. And Mug Club is still around, so for $70, you can see the entertainment and get all-day refills of Natty Boh.