Rounding out the field of nine are Armagnac, who was previously trained by the embattled Bob Baffert; Fenwick, trained by Kevin McKathan, who runs a training center for young horses that produced the likes of American Pharoah and Silver Charm; and Skippylongstocking, who has four dark-colored legs, or stockings.
The party in the infield returns, in a big way.
Stories about the infield party at the Preakness are legendary: the coolers of beer, the portable-toilet races, the bikini contests, the couches brought in from the streets.
Through the years, there have been more and more restrictions to curb extra rowdy — by infield standards — behavior, but last year’s event may have been the tamest of them all. Because of the pandemic, organizers capped attendance at 10,000 people, which included the infield. The concert went on, however, and 400 pods, which sat between four and eight people each, were arranged on the grass separated by metal fencing. 2 Chainz, D-Nice and Major Lazer performed.
But the full-on party that Preakness-goers know and love — a dizzying compilation of top musical acts and bottomless mugs of beer — is back and now stretches across two days.
On Friday, a day traditionally headlined by the Black-Eyed Susan race for fillies, the inaugural Preakness Live Culinary, Art and Music Festival will be held, with performances by Lauryn Hill, Megan Thee Stallion, Brittney Spencer and others. The celebrity chefs Tom Colicchio, Marcus Samuelsson and Gail Simmons and local chefs will provide food demonstrations, and local artists will have installations in what is being called the art garden.
On Saturday, the traditional InfieldFest returns, headlined by Marshmello, the Chainsmokers and MoneyBagg Yo. Maybe there will even be sightings of the mythical centaur mascot, Kegasus.
So let the extended debauchery begin — this time, many hope, never to be interrupted again.
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