Baltimore's infamous Preakness Stakes. Photo by Boboroshi
In Baltimore, on the third Saturday of May, you can usually find a huge conglomerate of preps gathered at the infield of Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown, with horses running 1 3/16 miles, or 9½ furlongs, competing for prize money and a replica of the gorgeous Woodlawn Vase. The original Woodlawn Vase, created by Tiffany, is on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art and is valued at over 4 million dollars. I like to visit it on a regular basis : )
The Woodlawn Vase
Preps convene to watch the races, get a sun tan, and drink some beer. No longer a big BYOB bash, and now, horrors of horrors a bikini contest to boot, the appeal of Preakness has waned for many. This year, the Kegasus, half man, half horse, may scare away the few remaining infield goers. But even without the preptastic party, Preakness has a long tradition in Baltimore, stretching back to 1873. Away from the noisy infield, you can still find ladies in gorgeous hats and the horsey set sipping more respectable beverages.
and now Penny…
I always have a hard time watching horse racing or any other type of animal racing, being the proud owner of a small “horse,” Pencil a.k.a. Penny. Most recently, Barbaro, a beautiful thoroughbred, shattered his leg racing the heartbreaking 2006 Preakness. Pimlico renamed one of the Preakness Day races the Barbaro Stakes in honor of the beautiful horse. So please keep your fingers crossed, hopefully no horses will be hurt racing the Triple Crown this year.
Who Me? Penny checking out the scene at the AVAM kinetic sculpture race.