Whether you’re in it for the sport, the gambling, the fashion or just the black-eyed Susan cocktails, there are plenty of ways to experience the 149th Preakness Stakes.
The Preakness Stakes is just around the bend.
Whether you’re in it for the sport, the gambling, the fashion or just the black-eyed Susan cocktails, there are plenty of ways to experience what some call “Baltimore’s Super Bowl,” scheduled to take place Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
We’ve pulled together a guide to help you choose your own Preakness adventure.
If watching the race from the Pimlico grandstand is on your Baltimore bucket list, there are still seats available.
Tickets start at about $160 on the grandstand’s upper level. You can also choose seats along the track or in the infield at Turfside Terrace, a catered tent where individual tickets go for nearly $800 a person. For entry to the luxe, air-conditioned chalet next to the Winner’s Circle, you’ll have to fork over $2,500.
For plenty of Preakness-goers, the main draw is the music at the annual Preakness LIVE music festival, which runs concurrently with the day of racing.
This year’s lineup features headliner Jack Harlow, as well as rapper Channel Tres and DJs Gryffin, Frank Walker and Chantel Jeffries. Tickets to the festival start at $69, with entertainment kicking off at 10:30 a.m.
You can do better than chicken tenders and fries at the track. If you’re looking for something a little different, both the grandstand and the infield have solid options.
For a quintessentially Maryland lunch, look for crabcakes from Pappas Seafood, a Baltimore-area staple since the 1970s, at a booth in the grandstand. A pit beef sandwich, accompanied by crunchy crab chips, is another sure bet.
If you’re going to Preakness LIVE, the infield vendors include Baltimore favorites like Jimmy’s Famous Seafood (grab an order of the crabcake eggrolls) and HoodFellas, which will debut a new barbecue concept called Soul Street at the race.
And if you’re willing to shell out for a table, Pimlico has several dining rooms in its clubhouse, where tickets will get you an open bar and a gourmet lunch from a “world-class executive chef.”
The Preakness Stakes draws tens of thousands of people, so you can expect lines and crowds. If you want a more laid-back horse racing experience, it’s worth checking out Black-Eyed Susan Day instead. The annual event happens the Friday before the Preakness Stakes and spotlights young fillies. You can still catch races and browse vendors, and as a bonus, the tickets are cheaper, starting at about $80.
If you’re curious about the inner workings at Pimlico, the track hosts free behind-the-scenes “Sunrise Tours” from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. through Friday. Walk through the grandstand, stop by the barns to get a look at the horses and step into the winner’s circle as part of the tour, which is first-come, first-served — so get there early.
If you’d rather get an insider’s look into the horse race itself, check out the Alibi Breakfast, an annual tradition that gathers horsemen and reporters to talk about their Preakness predictions. This year’s breakfast takes place Thursday morning at 9 a.m. and tickets are still available.
If you want to celebrate the Preakness without having to make your way to the track, Baltimore has plenty of parties this year.
On Thursday, there’s Derby After Dark, which kicks off at Lexington Market at 6 p.m. A highlight of the event is the crab derby, a long-running tradition featuring racing crabs from Faidley Seafood. The market will also host a crab-picking contest, live DJ, photobooth and an artists’ market timed to coincide with the Bromo Art Walk. May 16, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 112 N. Eutaw St., Downtown Baltimore
The Four Seasons hotel in Harbor East will put the spotlight on Preakness fashion with a pop-up shop from famed milliner Christine A. Moore. Stop by the Four Seasons’ lobby Thursday through Saturday to browse hats, drink free black-eyed Susan mocktails and munch on snacks from the hotel’s executive chef, Tristan Baker. May 16-17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 18, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Meets and greets with free food and drink, May 16-17, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 200 International Drive, Harbor East
The Hotel Revival will host a Preakness High Tea on Friday. Head to the hotel’s 15th-floor restaurant, Topside, for pots of tea and tea-based cocktails from Baltimore’s Wight Tea Co. and snacks like cheese and charcuterie boards, passion fruit panna cotta and ricotta with aged balsamic and honey. May 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations are available on OpenTable. 101 W. Monument St., Mount Vernon
Get dressed in your Preakness best for Friday night’s Preakness Stakes Soirée at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. The party, set in the hotel’s courtyard, will have live music, themed cocktails and snacks like caviar-topped blinis and Old Bay shrimp cocktail. May 17, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $125. 1715 Thames St., Fells Point
