City: Baltimore, MD

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (410) 542-9400

Address: 5201 Park Heights Ave.

Description: The third Saturday in May marks the annual running of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, held here since 1909. Gates usually open at 8:30 a.m. for the infield, which is the area inside the track. Infield seats are popular because you are right at eye level with the horses, seats are less expensive, and because it’s a great all-day picnic. The track has imposed seriously strict regulations against alcoholic beverages and the types of coolers you can bring into the track.As soon as the Preakness winner has been declared official, a painter climbs to the top of the replica Old Clubhouse copula to paint the weather vane. Using the colors of the winner’s silks, the jockey and horse will remain there until a new winner is declared in the next year’s Preakness. The silver Woodlawn vase was created by Tiffany and Company in 1860 and is said to be the most valuable trophy in American sports. The winner receives a replica while the original generally resides at the Baltimore Museum of Art (it’s brought to the race track under heavy guard).