Horse Racing Enthusiasts Celebrate The Preakness Stakes With The 'Black-Eyed Susan'
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Race-goers celebrate with a Baltimore tradition ahead of the 2012 Preakness Stakes that takes place on Saturday.
Jessica Kartalija has more from the historic hilltop.
"It's delicious! I don't know what's in it."
The drink of choice for race-goers, the Black-Eyed Susan, is a Baltimore tradition.
"The official drink of Preakness Stakes, folks!"
On the eve of the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes, racing fans place their bets.
"My mom just passed away in 2010 and they called her MeMom. And a horse that's running in this race is called 'It's Me Mom,'" one attendee said.
Kartalija: "I go by names. How do you guys choose?"
Preakness Attendee: "I go by colors."
It's the People's Pink Party at Pimlico with Lady Legends for a Cure-- retired jockeys riding in support of Susan G. Komen.
And there's a $30,000 female jockey challenge with Rosie Napravnik, the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks.
"I'm really happy because it is my home turf and I love coming to ride here and seeing my old friends and all the people who got me started. It means a lot," she said.
Black-Eyed Susan Day is a first for Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill.
"There's just so much energy in the air, and especially to see all the female jockeys who are so talented," he said.
It was a beautiful day to enjoy a Charm City tradition.
"My husband loves the races. So what better thing to do then come and do what he loves to do. So he can't complain," Michelle Jones of Baltimore said.
Baltimore's Sagamore Farms owned by UnderArmour CEO Kevin Plank has a horse running in the Preakness Stakes called Tiger Walk.
