Although the infield at the Preakness Stakes does not allow you to pull in your car and tailgate in the traditional manner, it is full of grills, coolers of beer and a lot of rowdy behavior. The Preakness Infield has evolved into something that resembles Spring Break at Lake Havasu during a Girls Gone Wild video shoot. You’ll see college kids foot racing on top of the rows of port-o-johns all while dodging beer cans being flung at their heads. Keg stands and 12-foot long beer bongs are commonplace here. Oh yeah, most party goers know there is a pretty big horse race going on that day but by post time, most everyone in the infield could care less.

From south of Baltimore, take 95 North to 695 West (Baltimore Beltway). Take Exit 18 East, Lochearn (Liberty Rd.) Make a left turn at the 7th traffic light, Northern Parkway. Make a right turn on Park Heights Ave., make a left turn on Hayward Ave. and proceed straight into the track.

From north of Baltimore, take 95 South to 695 West (Baltimore Beltway.) Take exit 83 South and follow to Northern Parkway West and follow the signs.

Regular Racing Days: Turn left on Winner Ave. Go to the second intersection - Hayward Ave. - and make a left into the Pimlico facility.

Preakness Day ONLY: Turn left on Park Heights Ave. Go to next light - Hayward Ave., turn left. Follow signs to parking.

Map For Directions

Parking is even more of a problem here than at the Derby as the track is right in the middle of a less than savory residential part of town. It is best to buy from the track and park in their lots as they are safer, but space is quite limited and runs from $30 to $125 for the day. You have to order in January to get any of these. If you don't get the track parking, you can park in the local residents' yards for around $25. Probably you will be safe because of all the people in the area that day, but I wouldn't recommend it. An alternative is to park at one of the light rail stations around town and take the train in to the track as a shuttle bus runs all day from the closest station. Traffic is also a big problem because of the residential nature of the area. There just aren't enough streets to handle all the cars so there are a lot of street changes for the big day to one way to help with the traffic flow.

Cooler Restrictions on Preakness Days

Grandstand AND Clubhouse: coolers, backpacks and thermoses WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. You must bring your Non-Alcoholic beverages (Grandstand & Clubhouse ONLY) and food items in CLEAR, plastic bags or CLEAR, SEE-THROUGH plastic containers, not larger than 18” by 18”.

Infield: Coolers and backpacks will be permitted – NO Thermoses, or bulk or oversized carrying devices allowed. Coolers larger than 28”L x 15”w x 17”h will be prohibited.

Top of the Stretch (in the Infield): Coolers and backpacks will be permitted. NO Thermoses. Coolers larger than 12” x 12” will be prohibited. No outside beverages.

Turfside Terrace and Clubhouse TURN RESERVED: coolers, backpacks and thermoses WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. No outside food or beverage items allowed.

ITEMS THAT ARE OK TO BRING INTO INFIELD

Food items and Picnic Lunches. You may carry food items and picnic lunches in coolers and backpacks – NO Thermoses, or bulk or oversized carrying devices allowed. Coolers larger than 28”L x 15”W x 17”H will be prohibited in the Infield. Coolers larger than 12” x 12” will be prohibited in the Top of the Stretch.

Beach Blankets (Infield Only) and Suntan Lotion
Cellular Phones, Cameras (up to 35mm), Camcorders and Binoculars Lightweight Aluminum or Plastic Lawn or Umbrella Chairs (Infield Only)

MUG Club Policy: You must be 21 to purchase MUG Club ticket and/or enter MUG Club areas. MUG Club tickets will be exchanged for wristband onsite. In order to receive a Mug and wristband, a ticket must be presented. 1 ticket per person. 1 person may NOT present several tickets and receive corresponding mugs and wristbands.A limited quantity of MUG Club tickets are available. Only official Preakness-issued souvenir MUG Club cup will be accepted at filling stations.
Mug will not be replaced if lost or stolen.

ITEMS THAT ARE NOT OK TO BRING INTO INFIELD

Beverages of any kind (including alcohol, beer, wine, soft drinks, water or other beverages)
Coolers larger than 28”L x 15”W x 17”H in the Infield
Coolers larger than 12” x 12” in the Top of the Stretch
Thermoses
Balloons or Balls

ITEMS THAT ARE OK TO BRING INTO GRANDSTAND

NON-alcoholic beverages individually carried in plastic containers or regular sized cans.
Food Items and Picnic Lunches.

NON-alcoholic beverages, food items & picnic lunches MUST be brought in CLEAR, plastic bags or CLEAR, SEE-THROUGH plastic containers, no larger than 18" by 18".
Beach Blankets and Suntan Lotion.
Cellular Phones, Cameras (up to 35mm), Camcorders and Binoculars.

PROHIBITED ITEMS at Pimlico Grandstand

Alcoholic beverages (including beer and wine) will NOT be allowed to be brought into the Grandstand or Clubhouse facility on Black-Eyed Susan Day and Preakness Day.
Coolers, Backpacks or Thermoses.

ITEMS PROHIBITED ANYWHWERE at Pimlico

Drugs of any kind
Weapons of any kind
GLASS CONTAINER OF ANY TYPE
Tents
Hibachis or barbeques
Ladders, scaffolding or other raised devices
Bulk or oversized carrying devices
Non-folding, or folding metal, furniture
Hand carts, or wheeled carts

Inspections and Security Measures

All persons and their camera bags, purses and all containers entering Pimlico grounds are subject to direct physical search, or indirect search by wanding or magnetometers.
Pimlico reserves the right, without any refund of the ticket purchase price, to refuse admission to or reject any person whose conduct is deemed by Pimlico to be disorderly, or who is under the age of 21 and possesses alcohol.

Hotels are not as big a problem as with the Derby since Baltimore is much larger than Louisville. Rates are not usually raised for that weekend and most hotels have no minimum stays, so you won't be stuck with a huge hotel bill like at the Derby. However, there are no hotels or motels remotely close to the track with at least a 15 minute drive in good traffic from the closest, and then you are stuck with the parking problem again. Staying somewhere right on the northern or western parts of I-695 will probably make your drive to the track a bit easier, especially more so than staying downtown. If you plan ahead and make sure to purchase parking in advance and leave early to beat the worst of the traffic, you should be able to get to the track without too many headaches.