Last year my dad and I took the trip to Kentucky for my
first Kentucky Derby experience and it was everything I wanted it to be, even
with the rain.
But this year all five of us took the short drive down to
Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes to see Triple Crown hopeful, California Chrome,
run up close.
We arrived at Pimlico Race Track on Friday for Black Eyed
Susan Day, similar to Oaks Day at the Derby, a day dedicated to the
fillies. My dad’s company was
sponsoring events taking place that morning, and we got to reap all the
benefits! We had great seats in
the grandstand and access to the Turfside Terrace located on the edge of the
infield (not to be confused with the frat party atmosphere of the actual
infield, where you can see virtually nothing)!!
I’ve been to a number of racetracks including Monmouth, Saratoga,
Gulf Stream, Churchill Downs and Keeneland. I was shocked at how Pimlico holds such a prestigious event,
but is very run down. The paddock
area was especially disappointing.
But the Preakness itself definitely lives up to the hype! It’s an iconic horserace with its traditional flowers and signature cocktails. There are races all day leading up to the big event- on
both the turf and the dirt.
The Turfside Terrace was a wonderful area to spend the day
with great views of the horses, great food and drinks, and exclusive betting
windows. We found a spot close to
the fence and stayed there for most of the races. We were exceptionally close to the races that ran on the
turf. You could feel the breeze
and the rumble of the ground and the horses raced by.
Before we knew it the trumpets were sounding for the race we’d
been waiting for all day. The
contenders paraded down the track to the starting gate. Once set in their post positions, the
whistles blew, the gates flew open and they were off. Running past us in the blink of an eye, around the turn and
down the stretch before breaking for the final lengths to the finish. The crowd was wild, yelling for their
horses to win. California Chrome
surged ahead with Ride On Curlin’ finishing one and a half lengths behind. It was a wonderful race. 
And now I can’t wait/I’m so nervous to watch California
Chrome race in the final leg of the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes. I love his story (the colt of a $8,000
mare bred with a $2,500 stallion to a one horse stable) and would love to see
him achieve a Triple Crown win!!!
I’m supposed to be in NYC seeing Aladdin on Broadway with my family that
day. Any chance we can exchange
our tickets and head to the Belmont?
#CHROMIE
