The Black-eyed Susan- the Official Drink of the Preakness

In May 2010, the Preakness Stakes will be held at Pimlico Race Track, one of the oldest horse racing tracks in America. Pimlico hosts more than races. It also hosts horse racing history and traditions. One such tradition is serving Black-eyed Susans. While some flower lovers may think this is a seasonal gesture, horse racing fans know that the Black Eyed Susan is more than the Maryland State flower, it is the official drink of the Preakness.

The History

Racing at Pimlico began in 1870, after then Governor Oden Bowie made a horse bet and the prize centered on drinking and food. He has boasted that he and his horse racing friends should hold a race in two years. The loser of the race would host a dinner for the winner. His brainchild, called the Dinner Stakes, forever changed horse racing in America. On October 25, 1870, the first Dinner Stakes were held and a yearling named Preakness, son of Lexington, won the race. Following that, the Maryland Jockey Club held an annual race and renamed the event the Preakness Stakes, in honor of the history making horse.

Since 1873, the Preakness Stakes has been held. The majority of the time the Stakes have been hosted by Pimlico, located in Baltimore, Maryland. Pimlico, nicknamed the "Old Hilltop" had been a popular gathering place for champagne lunches and rendezvous. Pimlico offered catering and other fine meals. In 1956, Brian Handleman, president of the Maryland Turf Caterers, took over food and beverage operations at the Maryland horse track. As plans for the centennial celebration for the Preakness approached, Handleman and others worked on ideas for the event. The thought about a commemorative glass came up and Handleman was tasked with filling it.

The Kentucky Derby had named the mint julep as its official drink. Handleman wanted to best that and the Black-Eyed Susan was born. The drink is named for Maryland's state flower and seems to honor one of the track's famous stakes which came about during the Prohibition years. Handleman's original recipe consisted of a blend of vodka, rum, Triple Sec, pineapple juice, orange juice, a lime wedge, and ice.

The Recipe

While the Preakness champion gets his Black-eyed Susan blanquet (blanket-bouquet), well wishers and horse racing fans get their own, Black-eyed Susan cocktail.

The recipe has changed over the decades. In the 1980s, the Triple Sec and lime wedge were replaced by peach schnapps. By the 1990s, Early Times Bourbon became a sponsor of one of the Preakness Day races and as a result, the Black-eyed Susan was being made with whiskey and not rum.

The new mix has changed since Handleman's first concocted the drink. As such, there are several variations on the recipe for the drink, but Pimlico and the Preakness have its own official recipe. The current recipe is as follows:

¾ ounce 42 Below Vodka1¼ ounces Early Times Kentucky Whiskey3 oz. sweet & sour mix2 oz. orange juiceGarnish with orange slice, cherry and a stirrer.

Historic Pimlico is home to many traditions, including the Preakness. So when Spring brings the thought of flowers and horse racing to mind, don't forget about the Preakness and the Black-eyed Susan. For more information about the Black-Eyed Susan and its history, check out the following links:

http://www.preakness.com/blackEyedSusan

http://www.pimlico.com/

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