What Is The Dress Code For The Preakness Stakes?

The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the illustrious Triple Crown in the United States.

The race takes place directly two weeks after the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and, despite the 2023 Preakness Stakes betting, there is a spotlight also on fashion and socialising.

While there is very much an emphasis on style when it comes to the Kentucky Derby, it is something that is often overlooked when the Preakness Stakes is staged.

But, for many, the race at Pimlico is the event of the year, with hundreds of thousands packing into the stands to watch the action. It is the second-most popular race on the American schedule in terms of attendance, but what should you wear if you’re attending the event in 2023? You need to realise that events such as horse racing require a certain dress code, just like visiting a casino. In this article we will give some tips on what to wear to watch horse racing and some casino outfit ideas. You should always be prepared!

About The Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes form the second leg of the Triple Crown, and it is typically held on Armed Forces Day. A total distance of 1 3/16 miles is covered by the horses involved, with fillies given a weight allowance if they wish to take on the boys.

The Preakness Stakes was first staged in 1873 and was named by a former Maryland governor after winning horse in the Dinner Party Stakes, which is also staged at Pimlico. It is the second-most attended equine event on the American calendar, following the Kentucky Derby, and it is a huge day out for locals in Baltimore and the surrounding areas.

Dress For The Weather

The weather in Baltimore in the middle of May can often be very difficult to judge. That means that those attending the Preakness Stakes should be prepared for all possibilities. There is an average high of 25 degrees Celsius in Baltimore in May, but a low of 15.

There is also an average of eight days of rain, which means it isn’t outside of the realms of possibility that there could be showers at Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes. Visitors should dress accordingly depending on the weather, which means a waterproof should rank high among the things that are brought by guests attending the racing.

Bright Colours

A day out at the Preakness Stakes is likely to be a colourful affair, which means that many guests often to look to wear clothes that are flamboyant. A popular colour among many visitors is pink, while many also look to wear a dash of black to honour the nickname of the race- ‘run for the Black-Eyed Susans’.

The fashion at the Preakness Stakes is one of the key factors that all visitors will take into account before attending the meet, with many having sorted their outfits months in advance. As well as wearing colourful dresses or suits, hats have become a huge part of the outfit decision.

One of the most popular opinions when it comes to hat wear for the Preakness is the bigger, the better. There are often wide hats on show at the event, meaning that it offers a dual purpose, as it will also protect visitors from the potential strong sunlight at the track.

Key Items To Bring

After deciding on an outfit and packing your best hat, there are a few more key items that all visitors will need to bring for a day at the races. An umbrella will rank highly among those, as the weather conditions can alter drastically throughout the day.

Meanwhile, all visitors should ensure that they bring suncream. From a betting perspective, many fans often bring researchable phone devices, as this will ensure that you can keep your mobile at a high battery percentage throughout the day, meaning that your phone won’t die before you get to make your bets online.