The Maryland Jockey Club banned the tradition of allowing patrons to bring their own beer to Pimlico on the Preakness day in 2009 due to excessive drinking. It was a marketing disaster. Instead of the 112,222 people who showed up the year before on race day, only 77,850 came.

The race organizers decided they needed to, well, correct their overcorrection. This year, the Preakness Stakes unveiled “Kegasus,” an epic and legendary centaur used to promote Infieldfest at this weekend’s race.

Maryland Delegate Pat McDonough said “The campaign is infantile and another example why the horse industry is in decline. They’ve taken a great sporting event and turned it into a fraternity party.” However, ticket sales for the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday are up 17 percent from last year, and racetrack officials expect attendance to exceed 100,000 people.