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From two kinds of black-eyed Susans to the most valuable and historic trophy in American sport.
Let’s take a look at some Preakness traditions. ESPN has a list for us.
Black-Eyed Susan City – or is it?
The winning horse will be draped in a blanket of black-eyed Susans.
N0w, here’s a little-known tip that I picked up from the Preakness website’s Traditions page.
Black-eyed Susans aren’t in season in Maryland until June. The winner’s blanket is made of yellow daisies with painted centers.
A drink recipe!
The flower also inspired the race’s drink. So that you’ll be prepared for Saturday, here is a Black-eyed Susan recipe. Note the vitamin C with three kinds of liquor. This drink probably packs a punch. Bartenders and novices-to-hard-liquor beware. Also, some recipes for the same drink differ. Note the recipe in this ESPN article.
Sing along
Here are the lyrics to Maryland, My Maryland – the state’s and the race’s song.
Be sure to print them out and have them ready for Preakness post time, give or take a little around 6 pm EDT.
We can’t have any mumbled lyrics in the living rooms, even if you are drinking home-made Black-eyed Susans.
And there’s more
Every morning of Preakness weekend since Wednesday, visitors have enjoyed “Sunrise at Old Hilltop,” a dawn’s early light peek into life on the track.
There’s the Alibi Breakfast, which we won’t get to see. Since jockeys will be involved, I assume that the breakfast will be “continental lite” so they can make weight?
Visitors can meet the jockeys at a Jockey Autograph session on Friday from 11 to 11:30 am, before racing starts.
There is a Miss Preakness — but not the current favorite runner, the filly Rachel Alexandra.
“Miss Preakness” is a human, a college student. Maybe we’ll see her during the winner’s circle presentation?
And there’s the painting of the weathervane with the winning jockey’s silks soon after the race.
And then there’s the Woodlawn Vase.
The Woodlawn Vase
Woodlawn Vase, photo courtesy of Maryland Historical Society, Maryland Jockey Club & Baltimore Museum of Art
Just for the record, it’s not a vase. It’s a vah-ze. Big Time.
The owner of the winning horse only gets a replica of the Woodlawn Vase. The real thing will make an appearance under the watchful eyes of police guards, then it returns to its home in the Baltimore Museum of Art.
According to a history on the Maryland Historical Society’s site, the almost 3-feet tall trophy was created in 1860 by Tiffany & Co. It was buried during the Civil War so it wouldn’t be made into ammo.
In 1983, it was valued as worth $1 million. Imagine what it’s worth in today’s money? Hence, the police escort.
It is said to be the most valuable trophy in American sports.
Still, the replicas are lovely. I’ve seen some in the Calumet Trophy room display at the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse.
Part sculpture, part monument
The trophy is part statue, part monument. Ornate yet tasteful. I love the little horses along the base. The Woodlawn Vase is one of those objects that you could study for hours.
Photos don’t do it justice. The ornamentation just flattens out in the two-dimensional representation of a photograph.
The detail work on the replicas is stunning. I hope I someday get to see the original.
Tags: Black-eyed Susan drink recipe, Black-eyed Susans, Miss Preakness, The Woodlawn Vase
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