InfieldFest: A Musical Preakness Tradition

The Preakness Stakes, first run in 1873, is one of the most tradition-filled horse racing events in the United States. As soon as the race result is declared official, a painter begins painting the Pimlico winner’s circle weathervane with the colors of the winning owner’s silks. Other traditions at the Preakness include the annual Alibi Breakfast each Thursday prior to the Preakness and the ceremonial presentation of the Woodlawn Vase, the most expensive trophy in American sports, to the winning owners.
In more recent years, with the introduction of the annual InfieldFest at Pimlico, the Preakness Stakes has been developing a musical tradition as well. InfieldFest actually got started in 2009, when ZZ Top thrilled the crowd with their classic rock and roll sounds. In 2010, InfieldFest was headlined by both the Zac Brown Band and O.A.R. (who brought quite the crowd since the band is originally from nearby Rockville, Md.).
Bruno Mars was the main attraction at InfieldFest in 2011, while 2012 saw both Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa steal the show. Pitbull and Macklemore starred in 2013, which was also the year that InfieldFest first ventured into the world of electronic music through their booking of Dutch disc jockey Afrojack. Last year it was Grammy award-winner Lorde who was featured at InfieldFest, along with the Eli Young Band.
BRUNO MARS
 
Photo by Brothers Le/Wikimedia Commons
While the majority of the Preakness Stakes musical history has been established recently, upon further research, one can find music woven into the fabric of the Preakness for over 100 years. For instance, did you know that exactly 100 years ago a filly named Rhine Maiden beat the boys and became only the third filly to ever win the Preakness Stakes? Rhinemaidens were important characters in Richard Wagner’s famous operas, which originated in Germany and became popular in the late 1800s. The very next year, in 1916, a colt named Damrosch won the Preakness Stakes. The colt’s name was likely a tribute to Walter Damrosch, who was Director of the New York Symphony Orchestra at that time. In addition, for many years the Maryland state song “Maryland, My Maryland” has been sung by the United States Naval Academy glee club as the Preakness runners enter the track after being saddled for the race.
With so much music on our minds as we move into 2015 Preakness week, one can only wonder: what's in store for InfieldFest this year? Things get started on Friday, May 15, where acts Margaret Valentine, The Reagan Years, Vertical Horizon, Fuel, and Gin Blossoms are scheduled to perform. On Preakness day (Saturday, May 16), the festival opens up with A Thousand Horses, Trampled by Turtles, and Easton Corbin. Childish Gambino, who was nominated for two Grammy awards in 2014, is scheduled to bring his hip hop lyrics to the main stage at 1:15 p.m., and will definitely be a crowd favorite.
ARMIN VAN BUUREN

Photo by Wikimedia Commons
Then, at 3:45 InfieldFest will be headlined by international electronic music superstar Armin van Buuren. Van Buuren is known for his popular progressive trance music, and is extremely well-known for his weekly radio show “A State of Trance,” which attracts 30 million listeners every week. It goes without saying that the Preakness InfieldFest has once again brought unique and attractive talent to Pimlico for this event, and it will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of all Preakness week in 2015.