'Mr. Preakness' Chick Lang dead at 83

'Mr. Preakness' Chick Lang dead at 83

Charles John (Chick) Lang, known to the horse racing industry as "Mr.

Preakness," died peacefully on Thursday of natural causes at the age of 83. He

had been hospitalized since December 26.

The Maryland Jockey Club announced Friday that it will rename the Hirsch

Jacobs S. in honor of Lang, the longtime General Manger at Pimlico. The Grade 3

sprint will be run on May 15.

Chick Lang was fond of saying that he was not brought into racing, but that

he was "born" into it. His roots in the industry run deep. His

great-grandfather, John Mayberry, was a Kentucky Derby winning trainer in 1903

and his father, Chick Lang Sr., won the 1928 Kentucky Derby aboard Reigh Count.

His son, Chickie, was a racetrack executive at Oaklawn Park and Retama Park and

his grandson, Bart Lang, is currently the Director of Racing at Lone Star Park.

Throughout his career, Lang held every job imaginable on the race track, from

hotwalker to general manager. He was a successful jockey's agent, handling the

book for five-time Kentucky Derby winner Bill Hartack, but he was happiest

during his years at Pimlico from 1960-1987.

At the legendary Baltimore track, he served as Director of Racing and then

Vice President and General Manager. If there was anything Lang loved almost as

much as his family, it was the Preakness (G1). Lang promoted the Preakness like

no other, traveling to Louisville with "Next Stop Preakness" signs. He went as

far as to float hundreds of yellow and black balloons over the Kentucky Derby

Parade.

The opening of the infield on Preakness day was Chick's brainchild. He

brought a school bus filled with his daughter's friends to the infield to watch

the races and lacrosse games and helped it evolve into the mega-event that we

know today. Preakness attendance rose from 30,659 in 1960 to 87,945 during

Lang's tenure at Old Hilltop.

Lang loved Maryland's Eastern Shore and spent his retirement with his wife,

Nancy, at his much loved "Langs Landing," on the shores of Boone Creek in Oxford

and later, on the 12th hole at the Easton Club in Easton.

Lang continued to work as a racing consultant for numerous tracks around the

country until the mid-2000s.

He thoroughly enjoyed his work as WBAL Radio's racing analyst, where he

worked alongside his grandson, Jeff. While with WBAL, he earned several

distinguished awards as a journalist and producer including two Eclipse Awards,

the highest awards in the racing industry.

He was honored with a Certificate of Distinguished Citizenship of Maryland

three times, the Special Award of Merit from the Maryland Jockey Club, the

Humphrey S. Finney Award from the Maryland Racing Media Association and the

Jockeys Agent Benevolent Association Man of the Year Award.

Lang was most proud of his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years,

Nancy Christman Lang. Their son Chickie passed away from cancer in 1992. He is

also survived by his daughter Debi and husband Jeff Tessier, of Monkton,

Maryland; six grandchildren and their spouses, and 12 great-grandchildren, whom

he said were his superstars.

Funeral services will be private. Lang's wishes were to be cremated and to

have his ashes spread at Pimlico in the Preakness winner's circle near the

cupola. A decision has not been finalized but the ceremony could take place on

the opening day of the Pimlico spring meeting, April 17, or during Preakness

week.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The WBAL Kids Campaign, 3800

Hooper Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland or the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, PO

Box 803, Elmhurst, Illinois, 60126.