As the Preakness Nation gathered for the 136th time on Saturday, it could count its blessings any number of ways — a sky so brightly blue the ladies really did need their bountifully brimmed hats, an infield scene that seemed as beer-soaked as ever yet also tamer, and, most of all, a horse race that was in doubt until the last step.
Maryland's own Animal Kingdom finished second, a half-length behind Shackleford, disappointing home fans and ending any chance of a Triple Crown, last accomplished in 1978. Astrology, co-owned by Baltimore County native George Bolton, came in third.
"I would've loved to have seen a Triple Crown winner," said Marilyn Maitland of Harrisonburg, Va., a longtime horse rider and racing aficionado. "But it was still just fabulous. It was unexpected. It was a close pack at the end."
For the most part though, the party overshadowed the finish for the crowd of 107,398, the sixth largest. It simply wouldn't be springtime in Baltimore without a trip to Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness.
"I've been the first through the gate for the last 15 years," claimed Pat Curran, 30, who had crime-taped a portion of primo real estate in the infield right by the track fence. "I eat doughnuts with the security guards."
He spent much of the morning studying and jotting notes in his program, deciding which horses to bet on.
"When I was 18, 19, 20, we came for the party," said Curran, a plumber and former wrestler at Archbishop Curley High School, "and then slowly, we realized there were horses here."
His friends, Skip and Frances Piatt, consider the Preakness part of their anniversary celebration since it always comes around their wedding date — May 15. "It keeps our marriage fresh," Skip Piatt said.
The couple have some local favorites in the race: "We're from Cecil County, where Animal Kingdom is practically in our back yard," said Frances Piatt, 37.
After a week of rain, Saturday's sunny skies had seemingly everyone in a good mood and primed for Baltimore's biggest outdoor party.
"It's the best weather we've ever had, and actually I think there's more optimism around racing and the future of racing," said Gov. Martin O'Malley, who toured the Stakes barn and tent-hopped in the corporate village. "I think there's a sense that we're past the state of gridlock we've been mired in with slots."
O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown were among the politicians, celebrities, race fans and partiers who descended on Old Hilltop for the daylong festivities, which were part of a whole weekend full of events for many.
"It's phenomenal," Jeff Tarr, 54, of Cleveland, said of his first trip to Baltimore. "We were at a party in Silo Point [Friday] night, and the races [Friday] when everyone was in pink," he said of Black-Eyed Susan Day, which promotes breast cancer research. "And we bet on Shackleford."
In the crowd were Preakness veterans and virgins alike, those who are part of ever-shifting groups of friends who make it a point to come together every year for the event, as well as those who were starting what may become their own annual tradition.
For newcomers, the infield can be disorienting, a sprawling field of blankets and coolers, booze stands and betting windows, and, somewhere, the track.
"I don't even know where I am," said Mark Fisher, 22, a Hopkins med student. "Where are the horses?"
With six blankets, a cooler and bags of food – "They're Type A," Fisher said of his fellow med students — they were looking forward to kicking back as they neared the end of an intense year.
"It's been a long year," said Julia Thorn, 23. "We were going to come anyway, but it helped that it came at the end of the year."
For more than a few in the infield, Preakness isn't only about the ponies. They set up their chairs and blankets for the best view of one of the concert stages rather than the track.
"Isn't Preakness really about the music?" said Cathy Frederick, 45, a nurse and waitress from Boston.
It certainly is for her pal of 31 years, Teresa Morales, 44, a homemaker and self-described Train follower. (How closely does she follow them? This is her 11th show and she knows the roadies by name.) Between the two of them, they left seven kids behind for the weekend because, as Morales said, "Train makes me happy."
They're staying with Laura Jordan, 44, a friend of Frederick's from their college days at Tulane who lives in Mount Washington. ("Put in that she's single and ready to mingle," Frederick, in true friendship mode, advised. So noted.) They planned to skip out after the concert and continue their Preakness party at Jordan's home, where they figured they'd have a better view of the races anyway.
"I literally live around the corner," said Jordan, a school counselor. "We're going to leave after the concert and have a cookout at home."
Over in the corporate village, tables, color-coordinated linens and flowers under white tents replaced the open-air carnival of the infield. Smart celeb-spotters were keeping an eye on the Under Armour multi-level setup.
The actor and Baltimore native Josh Charles, whose hit show "The Good Wife" just concluded its second season, was in there, while some of the area's two-legged athletes also mingled in the tent city: Raven Ray Rice, as well as coach John Harbaugh, and former Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. were glimpsed.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was thrilled for both the city, which has been abuzz all weekend with all the out-of-towners, and one perk of the job.
"I'm going to meet Bruno Mars," she said of the concert headliner. She planned to be more mayoral than fan-like because, after all, "at 41, I'm slipping into the non-cool zone."
Rawlings-Blake, in the midst of a re-election campaign, claimed at midafternoon that the day had been "pretty politicking-free," although she added, "so far."
In a hat decorated with subtly colored black-eyed Susans, the mayor was among the women who brought out frothy confections, Royal Wedding-inspired fascinators and other sun-shading toppers.
Underneath a sweepingly wide-brimmed black hat from J.Crew, Maria Johnson said she experienced a first this year.
"I was telling my husband, for the first time, I have everything I need in my closet," Johnson, 40, said. "But that meant I didn't get to go shopping."
Lisa Previtt, meanwhile, had to do some last-minute shopping at the Hats in the Belfry pop-up store.
"I didn't know what I was wearing until Thursday, so I didn't get a hat," Previtt, 39, said, enjoying a vodka and club soda before going to try on some possible headgear.
Four 30-something friends from Prince George's County were making like a commercial for some high end metrosexual product: Single-malt scotches and cigars in hand, Patrick B. Larosiliere, Xadean Q. Ahmasi, Yusuf Moore and Bilal Beckles were enjoying their first Preakness.
"But it won't be our last," Moore promised.
Two of them are married, two are as Beckles described it, "married to the single life," but all four were enjoying the buddy bonding.
"That's what we try to do, find new opportunities to share new experiences together," Ahmasi said.
For others, the day mixed in a little work with the pleasure.
"It's the best networking day of the year," said lobbyist Alan Rifkin, who was schmoozing up the likes of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.
One of the more popular public figures in the corporate tent area was new Maryland football coach Randy Edsall, who was attending his first Preakness along with his wife, Eileen.
Edsall's choice to replace Ralph Friedgen back in January was not universally hailed by Terps fans, but most of those who introduced themselves to Edsall at Pimlico were polite and supportive. Even Miller, who introduced himself recently to Edsall, told him that he wanted the university to hire former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.
"I think everybody's very excited and very eager to see what we can do here," said Edsall. "The reception's been great."
Edsall was excited about coming to the Preakness, having owned three thoroughbreds a few years while coaching at Connecticut.
"I like the horses," said Edsall, whose horses are now retired. "A couple of them won, but I never got to see any of them race. I think this is a great event and it's great to be a part of it."
Staff writer Don Markus contributed to this article.