Being a Rosedale native, Stacy Keibler has been to a Preakness or two in her time, so she was thrilled when she was asked to host Infieldfest, which was headlined by ZZ Top.
When the actress and Dancing With the Stars contestant arrived at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday morning, however, she wasn't sure how the day was going to turn out.
"When I got here around 9:30, I just couldn't believe that this was the infield for Preakness," she said of the sparse crowd. "I was so sad. But as the day went on, the crowd picked up and it's been amazing."
Keibler said that the less-rowdy atmosphere actually is a positive.
"It's a great time because anybody can come to the infield now," she said. "You don't have to worry about not bringing your kids; you can listen to music."
She was quick to add that the dollar beers are nice, as well. "Cheaper than a Ravens game," the former Ravens cheerleader said with a laugh.
The highlight of the day for Keibler was being on stage with ZZ Top when the band performed "Legs," a song that was at one time Keibler's entrance music when she wrestled for the WWE.
"I had the best time being able to be onstage with ZZ Top. They had the furry guitars and they said, 'I guess you guys know what time this is,' and they brought me out."
- Kevin Eck
Virtual running of the urinals
Actual running of the urinals was beyond banned, but those who wouldn't feel that it was Preakness unless they did the deed could get a virtual fix under the Triple Crown Event tent, a stone's-throw from the banks of Don's Johns at the rear of the infield.
At the request of a Preakness organizer, New York technology company Amusitronix was asked to make a video game with a virtual running of the portable johns, employee Matthew Lipkin said. Players earned points by throwing beer bottles at the jockeys racing across the, uh, rooftops - two points for a head shot and one point for a body shot.
"Oh, yeah, I dropped him," called out Jackie Measley, 21, from Dover, Pa.
At the end of the day, the top two high-scoring players won cash: $2,000 for first place and $1,000 for second.
- Andrea K. Walker
At least the air is free ...
Jill Felsenstein had a green "nose hose" strapped to her face trying to convince me that aromatic air - free at the Airhead oxygen bar set up near the back end of the infield - would change my life.
