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J. M. Giordano

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Blue

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1 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

2 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Since 1870, Pimlico Race Cours...9;s Park Heights neighborhood.

3 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Since 1870, Pimlico Race Course has loomed over Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood.

Herbert "Blue&quo...apartment overlooks the track.

4 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Herbert "Blue" Case wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. before heading to the track as he's done everyday since 1946 when he started going to Pimilico. His current apartment overlooks the track.

Early morning at "Old ...'s 9th floor apartment.

5 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Early morning at "Old Hill Top" from Blue's 9th floor apartment.

Herbert Case fought in WWII wit...ok up playing races at Pimlico.

6 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Herbert Case fought in WWII with Patton's Army. Upon returning to Baltimore, he took up playing races at Pimlico.

Given the nickname "Bl...t his Park Heights neighborhood

7 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Given the nickname "Blue" by track operators in the late 1940's, Case is now known by it throughout his Park Heights neighborhood

Boxes of old Racing Forums and ...mp;#39;s one bedroom apartment.

8 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Boxes of old Racing Forums and Pimlico calendars in Blue's one bedroom apartment.

In 2018, Case lost his youngest... keeps his photo in his wallet.

9 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

In 2018, Case lost his youngest son who was in the Air Force in Texas. Blue keeps his photo in his wallet.

Case's son's fu...s other son reside in Oklahoma.

10 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Case's son's funeral. He couldn't get to Texas, so they they sent him photos of the funeral. His other son reside in Oklahoma.

Blue walks to the track in any kind of weather.

11 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue walks to the track in any kind of weather.

It's about a half mile ... to the tracks stable cleaners.

12 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

It's about a half mile from Blue's apartment to the track. On his walk, he stops to talk to the tracks stable cleaners.

A Park Heights residents call Blue "The Mayor"

13 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

A Park Heights residents call Blue "The Mayor"

The loneliest part of Blue&... parking lot next to the track.

14 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

The loneliest part of Blue's walk is the long, empty parking lot next to the track.

Blue arrives at the track everyday as soon as the doors open.

15 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue arrives at the track everyday as soon as the doors open.

Some of Blue's personal...magazines about horse breeding.

16 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Some of Blue's personal racing possessions include several magazines about horse breeding.

Blue watches results come in on...window of racing in the Spring.

17 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue watches results come in on Pimlico's monitors. Unlike the tracks simulcast at Baltimore's clubhouse, Pimlico no longer runs horses all year long. There is a small window of racing in the Spring.

Blue and his friend "S... while waiting on race results.

18 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue and his friend "Smokehound" cut it up while waiting on race results.

Daily gambling can be a lonely ...mself waiting for race results.

19 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Daily gambling can be a lonely life. Blue sits by himself waiting for race results.

The simulcast screens and betting desks at the Pimlico clubhouse.

20 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

The simulcast screens and betting desks at the Pimlico clubhouse.

21 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue waiting.

Smoke break between races

22 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Smoke break between races

Blue keeps a 1927 penny given t...irth year with him at all times

23 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue keeps a 1927 penny given to him by his mother for his birth year with him at all times

Taking in some air before making another bet.

24 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Taking in some air before making another bet.

Taking in some air before making another bet.

25 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Taking in some air before making another bet.

Blue outside the clubhouse.

26 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue outside the clubhouse.

Much of the area of the Park He... through a window at the track.

27 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Much of the area of the Park Heights nieghborhood is rife with poverty and crime. Row homes seen here through a window at the track.

Lobby and lounge on a slow Wednesday.

28 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Lobby and lounge on a slow Wednesday.

Blue walking back from a day of betting.

29 of 29 © 2024 J. M. Giordano

Blue walking back from a day of betting.

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Thumbnail of Blue

Thumbnail of Blue

Thumbnail of Since 1870, Pimlico Race Course_39;s Park Heights neighborhood.

Thumbnail of Herbert "Blue&quot_ apartment overlooks the track.

Thumbnail of Early morning at "Old H_e's 9th floor apartment.

Thumbnail of Herbert Case fought in WWII with_ook up playing races at Pimlico.

Thumbnail of Given the nickname "Blu_ut his Park Heights neighborhood

Thumbnail of Boxes of old Racing Forums and P_amp;#39;s one bedroom apartment.

Thumbnail of In 2018, Case lost his youngest _e keeps his photo in his wallet.

Thumbnail of Case's son's fun_is other son reside in Oklahoma.

Thumbnail of Blue walks to the track in any kind of weather.

Thumbnail of It's about a half mile f_k to the tracks stable cleaners.

Thumbnail of A Park Heights residents call Blue "The Mayor"

Thumbnail of The loneliest part of Blue&#_y parking lot next to the track.

Thumbnail of Blue arrives at the track everyday as soon as the doors open.

Thumbnail of Some of Blue's personal _ magazines about horse breeding.

Thumbnail of Blue watches results come in on _ window of racing in the Spring.

Thumbnail of Blue and his friend "Sm_p while waiting on race results.

Thumbnail of Daily gambling can be a lonely l_imself waiting for race results.

Thumbnail of The simulcast screens and betting desks at the Pimlico clubhouse.

Thumbnail of Blue waiting.

Thumbnail of Smoke break between races

Thumbnail of Blue keeps a 1927 penny given to_birth year with him at all times

Thumbnail of Taking in some air before making another bet.

Thumbnail of Taking in some air before making another bet.

Thumbnail of Blue outside the clubhouse.

Thumbnail of Much of the area of the Park Hei_e through a window at the track.

Thumbnail of Lobby and lounge on a slow Wednesday.

Thumbnail of Blue walking back from a day of betting.

Public Project

Blue

Copyright J. M. Giordano 2024

Date of Work Aug 2018 - Ongoing

Updated Feb 2019

Topics Aging, Black and White, Documentary, Editorial, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Sports, Video

During my coverage of the last Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, I noticed a lot of elderly gamblers sitting and betting on the simulcasts. After watching them for awhile, I decided to track down the oldest continual gambler at the track. After showing during the week day after day, employees of the track, fellow gamblers, and guards all pointed to Park Heights resident 91-year-old Herbert "Blue" Case, who lives about a half-a-mile from the track and walks every day to place bets. Since returning from the Army in 1946, where he fought in Patton's army in Europe, Chase has been coming to Pimlico to play the races. He's a handicapper. For me, his portrait is a portrait of a track in crisis as it's been threatened with closing or moving, a neighborhood who depends on the track, and a man who has relies on Pimlico for social interaction and could be a metaphor for the track itself. This is a multi-media project with a short film coming soon.

14,763

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