The Preakness Stakes is one of horse racing’s premier events in the country, held every year on the third Saturday in May. It is the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, two weeks after the world-famous Kentucky Derby. This year’s winning horse, Mage, was the only horse who competed in the Derby to participate in the Preakness. It was apparently the first time something like that happened since 1948.
It was my first-ever visit to the event. The crowd was enthused, and the people were very nice and stylishly dressed. It didn’t have quite the iconic fashion display that the Kentucky Derby is known for, but many attendees did show up dressed to the nines. But overall, the vibe of the event was a bit lackluster. Walking into Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby last year, there was something majestic, and it felt like a wave of energy greeted me as soon as I entered. Walking into the Preakness felt anticlimactic.
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The race itself was exhilarating. Eight horses ran, which was the smallest field since 1986. But what was missing in horses was made up with the excitement and drama that came from the race. One of the contenders for the Preakness title was a horse appropriately named CoffeewithChris. Given the commonality of our namesakes, I thought it was a good omen.
The horse started strong and was vying for the lead for the race’s first half. Then, CoffeewithChris faded to second, third, and down to fifth. The colt should have been named DecaffeinatedTeawithChris instead. Ultimately, National Treasure won the competition and eliminated Mage’s shot at the Triple Crown. The winners will face each other again in a showdown in three weeks at the Belmont Stakes.
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The most interesting part of the Preakness is the festive atmosphere at the residential houses around the racetrack and parking lot. Row homes surround Pimlico Race Course, and each street and neighborhood turned the event into one big party. It was a unique experience that I could only equate to what is known as a block party for anyone that grew up in a rowhome on the East Coast.
People gathered on their porches and held cookouts with coolers filled with icy cold beverages outside the race. DJ booths were set up so people could dance while waiting for the main event. The race was fun, but the inner city neighborhood around the track was the real party.