A crash course on the economics of modern racehorse ownership: Julie Hobson bought a 0.02% share of Seize he Grey for $127.

When the horse won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday evening, she — and every other micro-share owner — earned $158 of the $2 million purse.

But Hobson also spent $2,000 just to get to Baltimore after her flight was delayed from her home in Northern California. The night before the big race, her daughter wondered if they ought to give up.

No way, she thought.

“You only live once,” Hobson siad. “You only can live this dream.”

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A half-mile into the Preakness Stakes, Mystik Dan was halfway to deja vu. The bay colt was hugging the rail, biding his time behind the lead pack, waiting for an opening as he headed into the final turn at Pimlico Race Course. Two weeks ago, Mystik Dan had been there at Churchill Downs, then turned into the homestretch with the lead at the Kentucky Derby and held on for a dramatic photo-finish win.

A half-mile into the Preakness, D. Wayne Lukas had his own feeling. A good one.

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Horse racing isn’t new to rapper Jack Harlow.

The Louisville native’s song “Churchill Downs” is named after the racetrack that hosts the famed Kentucky Derby. Its accompanying music video was even filmed inside the facility in 2022.

So headlining the concert after the Preakness Stakes? A no-brainer.

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Under the tent in the AfroPreak Lounge, an impeccably dressed crowd danced to Tear da Club Up by DJ Class and mixes by the late queen of the Baltimore club music scene, DJ K-Swift. The ticketed event, which was produced by The Finn Group, was “designed to engage Black residents of Baltimore… to enjoy a diverse and engaging cultural experience of food, music, and fashion,” according to a news release.

Outside the dance party, Laurielle Noel and her husband Ainsley Burrows, of Baltimore, took a break from dancing to chat with their friend Freda Sangfroid of Annandale, Virginia under a tented sofa surrounded by bright pink and yellow flowers.

The trio, who was attending the Preakness for the first time, waxed philosophical about the event.

“Preakness is the greatest form of collective theater,” said Burrows, who founded and runs Sweet Spot, a Black burlesque troupe, with his wife. “We all agreed to play a part today. Nobody would normally dress like this.”

Sangfroid, a business strategist, described the “human safari” of walking through the many different groups of people who had flocked to Pimlico on a drippy day.

“It’s a peacock parade,” said Burrows, watching women in elaborate hats and fascinators duck into the dance tent. “All the peacocks watching the peacocks.”

The friends said the cultural experience, not the horse racing, was the main draw for them to Preakness.

“It’s the vibe. The energy. The people. The swag,” said Burrows. “I don’t need to see the racing.”

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Crowds were still filling the infield area toward the end of the afternoon.

“Baltimore, make some noise for Maryland’s favorite son. Say hello and goodbye to Frank Walker,” someone said through the microphone at the stage, gesturing to the Canadian DJ.

Walker’s mother, Belinda Stronach, is the CEO of the Stronach Group, which owns the rights to Preakness. And the crowd did make noise, albeit scattered and only a fraction of what it has been in the past.

“Now we’re having a party,” the man said.

Francesca Rush has wanted to go to the festival for years but hasn’t been able to until this weekend. A softball coach, she made sure to keep this day free of games so she could make it to the festival. She wanted to see DJs Walker and Gryffin. “Every song is pretty much a banger,” she said of Gryffin.

Jack Harlow, she said, was a plus for her. But her friend Rachel Christian came here for the American rapper. Many of her friends saw him on tour last year, but she couldn't get tickets.

“I just like to dance, and he makes music I want to move to,” Christian said.

They got to the festival around 2:30 p.m., and Harlow won’t be onstage until after 8 p.m.

“We got the bottomless drink package, so we’re here to get our money’s worth,” Rush said.

As for Stephanie Koegel, this is her 11th Preakness. She thought the rain would deter people, but the turnout was better than she expected.

A horse rider herself, she said the festival is a perfect mix for her.

“It’s a good party,” she said, “Everyone is ready for a good time.”

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An inside look the 149th Preakness Stakes.

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It’s not news to anyone that the course and its facilities need a lot of work, which is why Maryland is pouring in $400 million to overhaul Pimlico among other initiatives meant to toss a lifeline to horse racing in the state. It’s welcome news to the out-of-town crowd of horse racing fans, who say they find the service and atmosphere of the Preakness Stakes charming, but the facilities less so. They have suggestions for the state as it goes through the design and renovation process.

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When we asked Gov. Wes Moore whom he’s picking in the big race, he didn’t pick a horse.

“I always have my money on Park Heights,” the governor said with a smile, before making the rounds in the state government’s hospitality tent at Pimlico.

Prompted to give a pick on the track, Moore demurred and repeated that he’s rooting for Park Heights — the neighborhood surrounding Pimlico Race Course.

Last year, Moore and many other politicians rooted for Coffeewithchris, a Maryland-bred horse, which finished last. But, with no Maryland ties in this year’s field, the governor opted out of making a pick.

“I’m always rooting for Maryland and, in the absence of that, I’m going with Park Heights,” Moore said.

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Dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah DAH

The notes ring out before every horse race, but what is that song and who plays it?

The tune is "Call to the Post," and this year it is being played by an Annapolis native, Justin Nurin, and Arlington, Virginia, resident Christina Alegre.

The tune, which evokes a shiver of excitement for horse racing lovers, signals to jockeys that it’s time for horses to be in the paddock for the coming race.

Although the musicians are often referred to as buglers, they do not play bugles but herald trumpets, an elongated trumpet that adds a little pomp to the circumstances.

This is the first Preakness Stakes for both trumpeters, although Nurin, 45, who lives in Philadelphia, has played "Call to the Post" more than two dozen times at horse races up and down the East Coast.

This week marks Alegre’s debut on the track, although the 21-year-old has played the tune many times as a member of a military band. In military circles, the tune is referred to as "First Call," and it is traditionally played at 5:50 a.m.

The trumpet-playing tradition harks back hundreds of years to when buglers would herald the arrival of royalty. Europeans brought trumpets to this continent and used them to signal the start of fox hunts.

Nurin and Alegre’s outfits are inspired by fox hunting regalia: black derby hats, red blazers, white riding pants, black boots — and a bit of local flair — Maryland-flag ties.

The duo played "Call to the Post" before Friday’s 14 races and are slated to play it 14 more times Saturday. They play each note together except for the final two, when their tones diverge and harmonize.

Nurin, who lived in Hampden for many years, said it was thrilling to return to his hometown to play Preakness.

“It’s absolutely amazing to put it all together and be here for this race,” he said.

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As officials streamed in and out of the state government tent, an architect of the plan to renovate Pimlico Race Course expressed optimism about the future of the track.

“I feel like we’ve turned a corner,” said Greg Cross, chair of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, before heading into the state tent.

The racing authority developed a proposal — and got the Stronach Group that owns Pimlico to agree — to have the state take ownership of the track and assume responsibility for operating thoroughbred races.

After legislation was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Wes Moore and following a vote from the state Board of Public Works this week, the property transfer is poised to be completed this summer.

“The state’s all in,” Cross said.

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Preakness used to be known as The People’s Party, featuring a charmingly boisterous crowd of young people guzzling beers in the infield while those interested in the racing sipped cocktails elsewhere.

There’s still plenty of beer and liquor available, but the people are conspicuously absent this year. As of 3 p.m., the crowd remained sparse in most areas of the track. The seating areas were about 25% full, and the infield had only a scattering of people. In most areas, there were no lines for food or drinks. Trackside tents appeared fuller, but it seems the rain kept many away from an event that once brought a carnival-like atmosphere to Northwest Baltimore.

Preakness Day attendance at Pimlico peaked at 140,237 in 2017 and remained above 130,000 until the pandemic hit. A crowd of 42,055 attended in 2022, the first year the facility was open in full again, and 46,999 came a year ago.

The Stronach Group, which owns the track but is preparing to turn it over to the state, has attempted to lure younger crowds back by spending more on premium entertainment acts. Headliner Jack Harlow is set to hit the stage at 8 p.m.

Maryland has set aside $400 million to finance the rebuilding of Pimlico (plus a new training facility elsewhere) and will begin demolition of the facility this year. The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes will be held here next year before the race moves to Laurel for one year.

Although plans for the design of the new Pimlico have not been finalized, initial drawings included fewer fixed seating areas. A yet-to-be-established nonprofit organization will take over running racing in the state — and the challenge of bringing the people back to the party at Preakness.

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Even before the horses crossed the finish line, Ian Wilson was satisfied with the results.

“Ah, she ran super,” said Wilson, an assistant trainer for H. Graham Motion.

Fluffy Socks, the overwhelming favorite at 3-5, crossed the finish line first in the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes, a sizable 7 ¾ lengths ahead of the horse in Motion’s barn, Five Towns. But, as Wilson put it in the winner’s circle after Five Towns and the rest of the field crossed the wire, “Ran her race, second best.”

Motion was pleased, too.

“I didn’t know if it'd be her favorite ground,” he said of the wet turf rated soft, “but she seemed to handle it OK. And the winner’s good, and she was second best.” Trained by Chad Brown, one of the best turf trainers in the country, Fluffy Socks came into the race with the most impressive resume of the bunch. The 6-year-old mare had run in some high-profile Grade 1 turf races and notched two wins in Grade 2 competition.

Five Towns, the filly we've been following in the "How to train a racehorse" series, was stepping up to graded company for the first time and finished 2 ¼ lengths clear of her next challenger.

It helped that four horses scratched, reducing the field to five — the same number as her last time out in the 1-mile, $100,000 Dahlia Stakes for fillies and mares age 3 and up.

She had a similar trip, too, sitting toward the back of the pack most of the way just behind Fluffy Socks. When Fluffy Socks moved up on the far turn, jockey Jorge Ruiz had Five Towns close behind.

“I saw the No. 7 horse the whole time, and I followed her throughout,” Ruiz said.

In the stretch run, Fluffy Socks drove to the front and took control. Five Towns was several lengths behind in the center of the track, passing early pace setter Tequilera on the rail.

“My filly tried hard, but the winner was just too quick,” Ruiz said. She had a similar trip, too.

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Dozens of protesters braced the rain Saturday as they stood outside Pimlico Race Course, calling out the industry’s horse death toll and what activists called solitary confinement of the animals.

About 40 protesters stood on the busy corner of Pimlico Road and West Northern Parkway, where many attendees walked by to reach the entrance of the racetrack.

Some averted their eyes from the protesters, looking straight down when an activist offered them leaflets or when they passed by signs with photos of injured horses.

“Horses die,” Jen Sully, a Maryland organizer with Horseracing Wrongs, a national animal rights organization, spoke through a megaphone.

“Ask us why,” the other activists chanted in response.

One woman in a flowery dress booed the protesters as she walked by. Another cussed them out under her breath.

The activists are used to the snickers and comments, and they brush it off. Sully said she has run protests at Pimlico or Laurel on a weekly basis, and people are more receptive then.

“On these race days, you’re gonna get more people who disagree with us being here because they want to go in there and they want to bet and party,” she said. “But the reality is that these horses are being killed.”

About 27 horses died last year in Laurel and Pimlico racetracks, according to the organizers. But she said public awareness has gotten better and she has noticed more support for the case in the last year.

“Having those conversations really engages us with the community and really helps people realize the truth of horse racing,” said Bailey Chapman, a communications specialist with the organization.

Chapman was critical of the plan to rebuild the Pimlico racetrack, whereby a state-run nonprofit will run the track and oversee the demolition and the construction of the new facility.

“Changing the trainers, changing the track, changing the ownership of the track does not change the fact that horse racing is animal cruelty,” Chapman said. “And, when you combine animals and money, the animals are always going to lose.”

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The Banner’s photography staff are all at Pimlico Race Course, along with a couple of freelancers, to capture today’s events.

Here are some photos we’ve pulled together of their work.

• Photos: Empty grandstand, muddy track greet Preakness fans who brave the rain
• Photos: Jockeys and horses battle the mud at Preakness 2024
• Photos: Hats, suits and ponchos round out the fashion at Preakness 2024
• Scenes from Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course

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We’d say hats off to Leo Miller for his pink bowtie and stripped suspenders — but surprisingly to his parents, Hailey and Joshua, he has been keeping the cap on.

The stylist? The mom. Can he give a high-five? Yes, and a fist bump too.

The almost 2-year-old then got off the bench and walked to his mom, holding on to her legs and hiding behind her dress. He might be dressed for stardom, but he is still camera shy.

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We're hours away from the main event, but the crowds are showing up and showing out at Pimlico for the 149th Preakness Stakes. Here are some of our favorite photos as the day gets started.

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One woman found a nifty way to protect her shoe wear at Pimlico. Walking on a muddy track ahead of the day’s first race, she wore plastic bags over her heeled pink shoes. With the rain, there’s plenty of mud on the track that's sure to ruin an attendee’s footwear.

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Have you heard, pray tell, of the legend of Kegasus? In 2011, Preakness introduced the centaur character in an attempt to lure young people back to Pimlico after the elimination of a BYOB policy. Paul Mancano recalls the myth and the legend of a marketing tragedy.

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A thrilling finish in the 150th Kentucky Derby saw Kenny McPeek’s longshot Mystik Dan barely hold off the oncoming Sierra Leone and Forever Young at the wire. Two weeks later, we get an interesting edition of the Preakness that sees Mystik Dan attempt to keep his Triple Crown hopes alive.

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The five of them sat on the grandstand, sipping drinks and looking over the program. They are dressed for the part, too, with fascinators and bowtie. It might be their first Preakness Stakes, but it's their second horse race of the year.

Maggie Oliver, and her sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Cody Murphy, attended the Kentucky Derby this month, and they have tickets for the Belmont Stakes in June.

Attending the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing has been on their bucket list. “Shouldn’t it be on everyone’s?” Cody Murphy said.

They figured it was a good learning experience. They have never bet on horses, Oliver said, wearing a glittery pink jockey silk with a golden ribbon that read "Derby."

Which horses have they bet on?

“The losers," Murphy said. His wife, Elizabeth, laughed.

The last horse they bet on came in second to last. Elizabeth Murphy looks at the names. Her mother, Sue, looks at the odds. Cody Murphy chooses based on numbers — whichever is closest to his wife's birthday.

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The Preakness Stakes begins at 7:01 p.m., but a dozen races are scheduled before then.

Here are the times, distances and type of course for each race, plus a link to the times on Preakness.com.

Preakness race times

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• 10:30 a.m. | The Batoff Goldie Maiden Special Weight: Turf, 5 furlongs
• 11:05 a.m. | Old Friends Allowance: Turf, 1 & 1/16 miles
• 11:41 a.m. | The Ali May Arcoleo Race Allowance: Dirt, 6 furlongs
• 12:16 p.m. | The Skipat Stakes: Dirt, 6 furlongs
• 12:51 p.m. | The Donald (Don) Butler Memorial Maiden Special Weight: Turf, 5 furlongs
• 1:29 p.m. | The Chick Lang Stakes — GIII: Dirt, 6 furlongs
• 2:08 p.m. | The Gallorette Stakes - GIII: Turf, 1 & 1/16 miles
• 2:49 p.m. | The Maryland Sprint Stakes - GIII: Dirt, 6 furlongs
• 3:31 p.m. | The James W. Murphy Stakes: Turf, 1 mile
• 4:10 p.m. | The Sir Barton Stakes: Dirt, 1 & 1/16 miles
• 4:53 p.m. | Jim Mckay Turf Sprint: Turf, 5 furlongs
• 5:51 p.m. | The Dinner Party Stakes - GIII: Turf, 1 & 1/18 miles
• 7:01 p.m. | The Preakness Stakes - GI: Dirt, 1 & 3/16 miles
• 7:43 p.m. | Optional Allowance Claiming: Dirt, 1 & 1/16
• Live updates, news from Pimlico

Preakness LIVE concert schedule (May 18)

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• 12:55 p.m. | Jordan Emanuel
• 2:15 p.m. | Chantel Jeffries
• 3:05 p.m. | Frank Weller
• 4:15 p.m. | Gryffin
• 5:30 p.m. | Channel Tres
• 8 p.m. | Jack Harlow
• More about the performers

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The rain might have stolen the shine from a few attendees and their usual glam. But not Sara Hernandez’s.

The five-year-old trotted around the building, her big, puffy dress falling down to her white shoes. She sported a fascinator that matched her mother’s.

“I like it,” Hernandez said of the dress.

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Waves of rain moved through Baltimore early Saturday and forecasters predicted clouds will continue to hang around as horses, jockeys and fans gather for the Preakness Stakes.

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Preakness Stakes Day started off a little chilly with showers. Rather than the usual glamorous hats, some attendees entering Pimlico Race Course for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown are bracing for the rain with raincoats and hoodies over their heads. Forecasters at the National Weather Service are expecting precipitation amounting to less than a 10th of an inch. The gloomy weather is expected well into the afternoon with temperatures no higher than mid-to-upper 60s.

Event organizers said attendees should plan ahead for the rain. Umbrellas, tents and certain types of bags are forbidden at Pimlico. Preakness is an outdoor event that happens rain or shine and no refunds will be issued due to the weather.

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Unbox your spring bonnet and press your seersucker. Baltimore’s annual Preakness Stakes returns this month.

If you’re new to the world of horse racing, don’t fret. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know ahead of the 149th Preakness Stakes.

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