Editor’s Picks for Preakness Week
T e 137th running of the Preakness Stakes is set for May 19 at Pimlico in Baltimore as the second leg of the Triple Crown. T is his- toric race has seen the likes of racing legends Secretariat, Citation and War Admiral. T ere are countless race day traditions that surround the Preakness, but did you know that there are plenty of activities for you to participate in dur- ing the whole week leading up to the Preak- ness? Some are as old as the race itself, some are new spins on old traditions and others are pushing race day into a new era. Here are just a few “Editor’s Picks” for things to check out during Preakness week.
Stable Tables
For the third year, Black-Eyed Susan Day (May 18) is going pink with its annual Lady Leg- ends for the Cure Lun- cheon benefi ting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. T e day features special lady jockey races includ- ing the Lady Legends for the Cure Race and the Female Jockey Chal- lenge. T e Lady Legends race brings back legend- ary lady jockeys in a pari- mutuel race. T e Female Jockey Challenge spans several races throughout the day with lady jockeys earning points based on their fi nishes. At the end of the four-race competition, one will be crowned champion. For the best Black-Eyed Susan Day experience, grab nine friends and reserve your Stable Table. Stable Table guests will not only have a front row seat for the day’s races, including the Black- Eyed Susan Stakes, but also a luncheon in the Turfside Terrace and a private breakfast tour of the Pimlico stables with legendary horsewoman Kathy Kusner. Country band Edens Edge will be performing in the Turfside Terrace. For details and tickets, visit
equiery.com.
Sunrise at Old Hilltop
It does not matter if you are a morning person or not, get up early at least once during Preak- ness Week to watch Sunrise at Old Hilltop. From 6 am to 9 am on May 16-18, spectators can watch the Preakness contenders during workout sessions and visit the Preakness Stakes barn during this 20-minute tour.
Music, Music, Music One word… CONCERTS! Se-
More recently, the breakfast has expanded into its own ceremony, giving out a variety of media awards. T is year’s breakfast will take place on May 17 in the Ter- race Dining Room. “Team Rapid Redux” will be receiving one of this year’s awards.
Book Signing
Meet local author Sass- cer Hill during a book signing on Friday.
Join legendary horse- woman Kathy Kusner for a Pimlico stables tour on Black-Eyed Susan Day.
riously, who knew? In an eff ort to revitalize the Preakness infi eld, organizers have sought out the best in the music biz over the past several years. Past years’ performers have included Train and Bruno Mars and the crowds in the infi eld have increased. In 2010, the attendance was around 95,000. With headliner performers, the infi eld crowd grew to more than 107,000 in 2011. T is year, the Maryland Jockey Club announced on February 3 that Grammy award winner Maroon 5 and Grammy- nominated Wiz Khalifa would headline the infi eld concerts. Within three days of the announcement, ticket sales were already up 6% from the previous year. By April, MJC reported that ticket sales were signifi cantly up from that time last year.
Little Big Town, T e Dark- ness and Mr. Greengenes are also on the Preakness Day infi eld lineup.
Alibi Breakfast Fun Preakness Facts - Did you know?
•15 Preakness winners have started from post position #6. •T e Woodlawn Vase was buried at the Woodlawn Racing Association in Louisville, Kentucky during the Civil War to prevent it from being melted into shot. • From 1890 to 1909, the Preakness Stakes was held in New York. • Nine Preakness winners have sired other Preakness winners. For more Preakness facts, become an Equiery friend on facebook!
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
In the late 1930s, a group of trainers, owners and oth- ers would sit on the porch of the Pimlico Clubhouse to drink coff ee and talk about the merits of their horses and swap tales. One thing led to another and the offi cial Alibi Breakfast fi rst took shape in the 1940s and was named as such by publicity di- rector David Woods. Today’s
breakfast
features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, jockeys and horsemen to cele- brate the Preakness.
The team that helped Rapid Redux hit a record number of consecutive wins will be honored at this year’s Alibi Breakfast.
Maryland author Sasscer Hill will be on hand on Friday to au- tograph copies of her latest book, Racing from Death. T is mystery
drama set at Colonial Downs is already getting rave reviews. Check it out and let us know what you think! Email
editor@equiery.com with your review.
Mother’s Day Treat
Treat your mom to a day at Pimlico as part of the track’s Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch on May 13. OK, sorry, we do not know much about this one but it sounds like fun!
Movie Night! Love a good horse movie? Join the Mary-
land Jockey Club, Maryland Horse Council and Maryland Horse Industry Board for a week of classic movies. T e AFI Silver T eatre and Cultural Cen- ter will be playing Misty,
National
Velvet, Secretariat, T e Red Pony, T e Black Stallion, T e Man From Snowy River, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken and Hidalgo the week of May 12 through May 17. Tickets can be ordered at www.
afi.com/silver/
fi lms/2012/v9i2/
horsesincinema.aspx.
Arabian Racing Added A race for purebred Arabian horses has been added to the Preakness Day race card. T e $75,000-added President of the United Arab Emirates Cup is a Grade 1 race run on the main track over 1 1/16 miles. T e race will be limited to 14 horses. Pimlico president Tom Chuckas said, “adding the top Arabian race to what is already a fi rst-class series of races will enhance the value of the day. We are pleased to partner with the UAE for this historic event.”
MAY 2012 | THE EQUIERY | 73
Katherine O. Rizzo
Katherine O. Rizzo
Ryan Lasek
848977-120512
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