It has been 20 years, but Malcolm Davidow, of Seattle, hasn’t forgotten the name Sunday Silence.
2009 Preakness Stakes
When: Saturday
8 a.m. — gates open
10:30 a.m. — first race post time
6:05 p.m. — Preakness post time
Where: Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore
Details: Various ticket and parking prices; 202-397-7328, ticketmaster.com
The 3-year-old thoroughbred from the West Coast was in a rivalry with Easy Goer, an East Coast thoroughbred, for the 1989 United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, commonly called The Triple Crown.
Davidow, who then lived in the D.C. area, and his companions saw Sunday Silence win the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and the 1 3/16-mile race at the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
“We ended up not making it to the Belmont that year,” Davidow said of the 1 1/2 mile race in Elmont, N.Y., where Sunday Silence came up short in the final race for the Triple Crown. “That will always be a minor regret. … If we were there, would he have won?”
Such superstitions join dreams, wonder and excitement among those who follow the Triple Crown races. As fans know, winning all three of the dirt track races for 3-year old thoroughbreds is the greatest accomplishment for a horse.
Since the Triple Crown began in the beginning of the last century, only 11 horses have won all three races. The last was Affirmed in 1978, according to the Web site Horse World Data.
But win or lose, the Preakness is a must-attend social event in the area, said Sara Damelio, who attended for the first time in 2007 at the invitation of a friend.
Damelio remembers dressing in “my glamorous horse race outfit,” including a pink-and-white polka-dot Lilly Pulitzer sundress, Manolo Blahnik heels and a pink wide-brimmed hat.
“We got to Pimlico, maneuvered through the crowd, found our seats and started drinking black-eyed Susans,” she said, referring to the drink named after Maryland’s state flower. “It was a festive atmosphere. … We had so much fun watching the horses, betting on the races and chatting with the people sitting near us.”
Eric Smith, of Virginia Beach, has attended the Belmont and other races, but will attend the Preakness for the first time this year.
Recommendations from Preakness Stakes veterans on the best way to enjoy the race:
Dress for heat. Even though the weather may seem cool, it generally heats up because of the mass of people at the event.
Place a small bet. Even if you don’t normally gamble, those who placed even $2 bets said they felt more involved in the race.
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Black-eyed-Susans and other alcoholic beverages are served, but it’s easy to become dehydrated, so don’t forget water.
Take a walk by the horse paddocks. It’s great fun to see the animals before the race.
“It’s exciting to see if a 50-to-1 long shot can keep the dream alive,” Smith said of the race. “[I’d also like to see] each major sporting event in person at least once.”
Various race experts report that the favorite in this year’s Preakness is filly Rachel Alexandra. No filly has won the Preakness since 1924.
Although it’s impossible to forecast the race, Smith said it’s often fun to walk near the horse paddocks before the race to try to decide which might win before going out and enjoying the social aspect of the races.
“It’s a great weekend escape for anyone,” he said. “A day at the races to unwind and relax and [have a] night out in Baltimore.”
Tracey Primrose, of Washington, D.C., said the race was also something of an equalizer among fans.
“I’ve been to the Preakness many times, and what I love about the Preakness is that it’s a race for everyone,” she said. “While the Kentucky Derby seems like it’s geared for a very wealthy crowd, the Preakness draws all kinds of fans. The guy sitting next to you might be in an Hermes suit, and the guy sitting next to him might be betting his last few dollars.”
The Preakness began in 1873, two years before the Kentucky Derby started. It’s steeped in various traditions, including draping the winner in a blanket of black-eyed Susans and an invitation for attendees to sing “Maryland, My Maryland,” the official state song.
Davidow recommends those who live in the area attend rather than watch the race and activities on a screen.
“I believe that when you travel or live in a particular place, you should take in as much of the surroundings as possible,” he said. “I would have felt bad about living in D.C. and not going to the Preakness … I will never forget that [horse’s] name.”
