It’s that time of year again! A long-celebrated Baltimore tradition, the annual Preakness race is held at Pimlico Race Track this coming Saturday. The festivities included make this an event Baltimorians never want to miss!
Black-Eyed Susan Day –The Ultimate Girl’s Day Out, kicks everything off on Friday with the Black-Eyed Susan race. One of Pimlico’s oldest stakes races, the first race was run in 1919 at Pimlico Oaks. The name was changed in 1952 to compliment Preakness and the Maryland state flower. The mile and one-eighth test is traditionally run the Friday before Preakness.
Last December, Pimlico announced a new branding campaign in support of women’s issues year-round: Empowerment 360, bringing attention to causes relating to health, education, career and family. The 2014 beneficiaries are the Maryland affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Baltimore-based Suited to Succeed. Pimlico will launch initiatives to support both causes with events leading up to Black-Eyed Susan Day.
As a special treat, Academy Award-Nominated Mariel Hemingway will be giving the Keynote Address at the inaugural Morgan Stanley Women in Business networking event and luncheon on Friday, co-hosted by the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce. She will be focusing on mind-body-spirit optimization and purposeful living. She will also be on hand to sign copies of her latest book, Running with Nature.
Saturday is the 139th Running of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. The Preakness is a true test for the horses and fans alike! The day’s festivities include a full race card featuring the top thoroughbreds in the world, the world’s largest Farm to Table dining experience, and live performances in the infield by some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment including; Counting Crows, The Fray, Annie Bosco, Lorde, Nas, Glen Morrison, Switchfoot, Eli Young Band, Sunday Best, and Gogo Gadget.
It’s sure to be a fun-filled weekend, a celebration of Baltimore culture and a great way to ejoy the start of Summer! So, ladies, don your finest hat and dress and enjoy this annual Maryland treat! And, maybe enjoy a Black-Eyed Susan or two!
For more information on the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Day, visit www.blackeyedsusanday.com.