Maryland, My Maryland My Preakness Stakes Tablescape
Friends it is Horse racing time. You may say, didn’t we just have the Kentucky Derby race 2 weeks ago? Yes, but now it is time for the second race in the Triple Crown Race which is called the Preakness Stakes Race. The 151st Preakness Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. The race, usually held at Pimlico Race Course, is taking place at Laurel Park due to construction. You might think I am from Maryland as the title of the post indicates, but it is the title of the song that is sung before the race…. like the ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ song is sung before the Derby. If you follow the horse races, you will remember the horse, Golden Tempo came from last place to win the Derby this year. He will NOT be racing in the Preakness much to the disappointment of horse racing fans. Everyone wants to see one horse go the distance and win all three races, which only 13 horses have done in the past. (By the way Secretariat in 1973 was my favorite). It is very difficult for a horse to run all three races in a matter of a few weeks. Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Golden Tempo will skip the race to allow for more recovery time, instead aiming for the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga. This decision means there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2026.
A fun fact: Since the Preakness is run in the middle of the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes races, it is considered the middle child, and often ignored.
So let’s talk tablescapes. I usually use the same basic elements in my horse tablescapes, but add in items conducive to that particular race. I posted this Preakness table about 8 years ago, but I update it to keep it fresh. You see, I don’t have storage for new dishes to cover the three races each year, so you will recognize a few of the same horse related pieces for the three races. For this table, I keep the burlap table runner and placemats that I use for the Kentucky Derby tablescape.
Ok, and I keep the large beautiful horse’s head also. But here is where I change it up a bit.
On top of the rectangular burlap place mat, I placed a round yellow place mat. I added a driftwood charger to use as a dinner plate. On top of the driftwood dinner plate, I used a brown-eyed susan salad plate.
I must tell you that you will hear both brown and black eyed susan terms. Apparently, they are one of the same. My salad plates are Vernon Kilns Brown-Eyed Susan plates, the flowers are up the side and the brown rim encircles the pretty yellow and white plate centers.
For the flatware I used the rope flatware and for the yellow napkin, I used a brown eyed susan napkin ring. I liked that the ring in the bottom of the flatware match the stainless steel horse’s bit also on the table. This bit has never been used, even though I used to have quite a collection when we were raising and showing horses. Our tack room resembled my dish pantry.
I used green bubble glass stemmed glasses and of course the Pimlico cocktail glasses filled with the brown-eyed susan cocktail. On one end of the table, a jockey hat and riding crop lay beside the horse bit.
At the other end of the table are more brown-eyed susan flowers in a yellow pot and a bottle of Dark Horse wine.
I keep the Menu as simple as the tablescape and it remains pretty much the same each year. I start with a cheese and crackers appetizer situated on a plate along with grapes and pear slices. Since the Preakness is run in Baltimore, Maryland…crab cakes are the star of the menu and I serve them on a layer of Bibb lettuce. The vegetables are easy, roasted asparagus spears and red potatoes cut into chunks to which I add a bit of butter and paprika. Finally, I use a home made (Rhoades frozen) dinner roll. Dessert is so pretty and so simple.
Store bought vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I add orange slices and a red or green maraschino cherry to the top.
Now let’s talk about these pretty Preakness Drink glasses.
The glasses change each year, but always have the Preakness Stakes name printed somewhere on the glass as well as the winners of all the previous races. The Preakness glasses that I have were for the running of the 131st running of the race in 2006.
The slender glasses are not the only thing that changes with each year’s race. Apparently, the recipe for the Black-eyed Susan cocktail changes also. You see there are several drinks that claim the title Black Eyed Susan Cocktail at the Preakness Stakes Race.
Why So Many Black-Eyed Susans? The drinks of the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness have changed quite a few times over the years, in part due to changes in the official sponsors of the races. And yet, the Mint Julep is so ingrained in the Kentucky Derby that it will never go away. The Preakness regularly changes the “official cocktail,” though the name stays the same. I have included the recipe I use…please see below.
By the way, the first cocktail that took on the Black-Eyed Susan name combined rum and vodka with equal parts of orange and pineapple juices. As you can see, I dressed them up a bit with a black bowtie, orange slice and red or green (or both) maraschino cherry.
As the recipe changes each year for the black eyed susans cocktail, so do the Pimlico glasses, along with the yellow daisies which by the way, have their centers painted black as I explained in this post. The post is called ‘The Run For The Black-Eyed Susans’, Click on that link if you want to know more about the Preakness, it is quite interesting. I go into detail about the race, how it came about with a lot of photos of the black eyed susans and the race. If you remember, at the Derby the winning horse is draped with red roses and at the Preakness the horse is draped with black eyed daisies that have to have their centers hand painted black. (No wonder the second race is like the middle child) 🥰. Also in that previous post…there is yet another recipe called the Mellow Yellow brown-eyed daisy, if you are interested..
For my Black Eyed Susan drinks, I sometimes add both red and green maraschino cherries, and an orange slice, Just to mix it up a bit, because the trappings of the race are a bit mixed up on their own.
If you read my Kentucky Derby post, you will know that I favor the gray horses (which none did very well )…one fell over before getting in the starting gate, but he is scheduled to race Saturday… and one was scratched early on race day and the other one came in last. 🫣 So far, there are 3 scheduled for the Preakness Stakes Race. if I were you, I would not follow my method of picking a winner!
Have a great day and Blessed Day!
Psalm 18:1,2
I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge…
- 1 part Makers Mark Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 part DeKuyper Peachtree
- 1 part Effen Vodka
- 2 parts orange juice
- 2 parts sour mix
- Garnish: orange slice and cherry
- Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain over crushed ice in a tall glass.
- Garnish with an orange and cherry.
- This recipe is measured in parts and it's very easy to adapt it to fit any glass size. For instance, to create a 7-ounce cocktail, pour 1 ounce of each liquor and 2 ounces each of the juice and sour mix.
- This pour should be the perfect amount for a single drink, though you can make it taller or shorter if you like.
- Just make sure to keep the ingredients in proportion to retain the balance of flavors.
Oh Kari, those pretty dishes with the glassware are just perfect for your Preakness theme. Your menu sounded wonderful and those store bought cupcakes are embellished by you so perfectly! I didn’t know you raised horses at one time
Happy Memorial Day weekend to you and your Captain.
Yes Jeannie…we raised all kinds of animals….and I loved every minute though it was a lot of work. The Captain and I prepared a few picnic meals for Memorial Day for some shut ins today… and now we are relaxing as I tire easily. Thank you for your sweet comments, you are always so encouraging. Enjoy your Holiday time with your family. hugs my friend.
I absolutely love your table settings! I actually have black eyed susan grow like crazy in my yard.But because we’re at such high elevation, they are just starting for the season. Can’t wait to see what you have planned for the Belmont!
-Amber
The Hungry Mountaineer
Hi Amber, thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments. We lived at 7800 feet elevation in the Manzanos Mountains near Albuquerque. I miss the high mountain desert. The Belmont post is coming soon. Golly this year is flying…Seems like we just celebrated Christmas…LOL and we are almost half way through the year. Have a great week.🥰
This was so interesting. When I was growing up, there was a subdivision near where I lived, where all the streets had horsey names. My boyfriend lived on Preakness. I hadn’t thought of him in a long time until I saw your post. I love the glassware on the table. You did such a beautiful job.
Thank you for commenting on my blog. I was shocked to hear that you had the same monkeys that I do. Those things are hard to find. There are more modern versions, but the originals have a replacement value of $1650!Yikes! I did see this set on an episode of “Seinfeld.“
wow Pattie, I didn’t know they were that valuable. I believe the first monkey I saw was at Graceland on a blog (not sure who), long after I got mine, (I don’t remember where because I had them stuffed in the back of a closet) however, I did notice the faces on your monkeys are a little cuter than mine…Mine look a little fierce.🥴 A post featuring the monkeys was in 2022 “Monkey See Monkey Do”…if you would like to see the differences in their faces. thanks for stopping by and commenting.
What a great table Kari! I love all the history and fun facts about the race too – I’m learning so much about horses from you! I saw Pam’s comment and your reply, I miss Jenna and Paula too. They were both so inspiring. Thanks for sharing your table, and all the love!
thanks Barb for stopping by and yes, we do miss Jenna and Paula.
I love horses and all kinds of farm animals. We raised everything…including our own beef and chickens (eggs a dozen a day) and turkeys. We pretty much lived off the land and I canned ketch-up, chow chow, pickles…you name it, but now, I don’t have the energy to do all those things, like tossing hay bales and helping birth calves and riding horses to round up cattle for branding and shots, etc. I had to laugh because Pioneer Woman started her blog doing all the things we have/had done…except we were not as ‘enterprising’ as she was. 🥰
Dear friend you win the prize for the largest assortment of themed tablescapes. Best of all they are very well done, informative, and quite lovely. I somehow missed that you had raised horses and shown them. What have you not done? I knew very little about the Preakness until your post. I happen to love brown/black eyed Susan’s and how they take center stage on your table. Your details are stunning.
As I leave my comment, it falls under Jenna’s comment from 2019. I miss our friend so much! She was so very talented!
Pam, I miss Jenna too…she was always so “up” and could do just about anything. Her art was amazing. She was always encouraging others to paint….me included. When I see one of her comments, I feel sad. 😔 Remember Paula-Sweet Pea? I miss her too.😔
On another note, I do have quite a few themed tables🥺….and when my daughter was here, she would roll her eyes at all my stuff…LOL.I confess, I am a hoarder of dishes….and yes, there will be a repeat of the Belmont Stakes tabescape, I don’t think I ever posted it…or I will change it up and do a new one by combining elements from the other races.🥳 (I certainly am out of dish storage space so won’t be buying more,….unless????🤣 😂). You, my friend have so many beautiful tablescapes and I am envious of your AC collection. Thank you for your kind comments…hugs and blessings always.
This is pretty perfect, Kari! I love those Preakness glasses and how your dishes and napkins, even the wine, pick up the cheery yellow of the flowers. It’s a very clever way to make it much different from your Derby table and also very fitting for spring (which I always think of as a “yellow” season!). Now I’m curious if you’ll do the Santa Ana (is that the last one or another?) soon!
Thanks Jeanie, I enjoy anything about horses…and yes there will be one more table for the Belmont Stakes which is run June 6th. My Brother in law raised thoroughbred race horses…and we raised quarter horses. They are a lot of work so one must be dedicated but I would do it all over again. LOL. Have a wonderful week-end!
Kari, this is such a pretty themed table with the black/brown daisies plates and glasses. All the background details were so informative. In addition to the race, I will need to watch the Preakness this year to hopefully see the sign painter and the blanket of daisies that they made for the winner. Eager to learn more, I found out that there might be 4000 flowers on a blanket. That will be one amazing blanket!
Hey Jan…Isn’t it interesting how they paint those daisies? And that sign painter has to feel a bit of pressure. LOL. We are having another two couples over to watch the race so it should be a fun time. The gray horse that fell over at the starting gate at the Derby is suppose to race, so I have my fingers crossed that ‘Great White’ will get in the gate this time. Enjoy the race and know that we will be watching too.hugs my friend.
What a pretty table Kari! It was really interesting to read about Preakness (of which I had never heard before) and the black/brown eyed Susan theme is very cool. The place settings and the signature cocktail glasses are so cute and your recipe for the cocktail sounds delicious. The horse’s head is magnificent and love the addition of the jockey hat, riding crop, and horse bit. You have made a wonderfully themed table and it must have been fun to change it up. Happy weekend and enjoy the race!
Thank you Kim, I love theme tables AND watching the races even though I don’t bet, I like to pretend I am. Of course, I always lose but it is a lot of fun when we have guests and we all pick horses. I have been around horses almost all my life and I love everything about them. I was sad when we sold our last one…. so writing about them is the next best thing. Thanks for stopping by and I hope ‘your’ horse wins.
Hi Kari,
Thank you for featuring the Preakness in this adorable tablescape. I am born and raised in Maryland and live about 25 miles from Baltimore. Even though I have never actually been to the Preakness, as we are always in Ocean City, MD that weekend for a big car show, we still celebrate it. My Aunt, who has a condo in OC, would always host a Preakness “Happy Hour” at the condo that we would go to and watch the race. Crab Cakes are always the star of the meal and have to have a Black Eyed Susan cocktail. Themed tablescapes are always so much fun to put together and you do it so well. Especially love this one and you give me some great ideas. Have a great week!
thank you Lynda….I do love an excuse to set a table and the Preakness as part of the triple crown races was so much fun. So happy I captured the celebration and got the seal of approval from a true “Marylander”?…not sure if that is the correct term or not. LOL Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and Blessings
Kari, I loved your setting. Absolutely gorgeous. Are black-eyed Susans the same as sunflowers? Kansas has a lot of those. Smile! I don’t mind being forgetful as I have that problem too. Hugs, my dear! I don’t know how you do so much.
Sandy…alas sunflowers are not the same as black eyed susans’, altho they are similar. The sunflowers are much larger than a susan…and I am partial to sunflowers… cuz “I’m a sunflower from the sunflower state” as the song goes. LOL Ya know…as I age I’m blaming processed foods on my forgetfulness…it sounds good anyway! LOL Have a Blessed day!
Kari, I absolutely loved every detail about this, history and all. You did a fine job!
thanks Rita, are you all moved in now? I am so anxious to see what you have done with your new digs! Hugs
A few more decor loads out of the house, and I’ll be finished there. Still trying to find creative ways to store the things I want to keep at the condo, nothing yet hung on walls, but I’m getting there!
Loved this post then, love it now! I didn’t realize you showed horses! I 100% agree with the complementary bit and flatware. Love the horse head, whip and bit as decor.
Love those cute salad plates! And the flatware is amazing!
thanks Beth…they were such fun to collect and since I got them a few years ago, not sure if they are still “out there” Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks Catherine….that drink is so good and can be modified easily! thanks for stopping by.
Kari, I love your Preakness table! Every detail is absolutely amazing! I’m going to make one of those Preakness drinks. It sounds delicious!
Catherine
Oh Kari your table is so cute and the “Horsehead” – wow I’d give anything to own that. We’re big Kentucky Derby fans and have had a KD party every year for the last 24 yeas. It’s become our annual family reunion. We even have our own coveted Horse trophy with a plaque containing who selected the winning horse for that year. Yes I know it’s crazy, but crazy fun. A few years ago I even made a horse head wreath and it’s beautiful. If you’re interested you can get the wreath frame from Trending Tree. On to the Belmont. Keep those tables coming. I love them.
What a great idea Sandy for a KD party. Double your pleasure with family and friends. I love the idea of a horse head wreath and I will check it out. thanks again for stopping by. It is interesting to note Belmont does not have a special drink, unlike the Derby and the Preakness. I guess by the time that race rolls around, it is anything goes…as long as there are white carnations. LOL
I am such a Kentucky Derby person and when my horse wins… I love love love the Preakness! Lol! I am glad that their is a cocktail for the Preakness and now I have a recipe for it.
Did you see the jockey fly off?? Whoa Nelly! Glad he didn’t get hurt… but how did that happen?
Your tablescape is stunning. I loved it all. And now that I know there is a signature drink… we will enjoy them with the Preakness next year!
I love watching the triple crown races….and so now on to the Belmont. Of course no horse will win the triple crown this year…we are having too much excitement with winners being losers and jockeys who “fly” off their horses. Let us hope the Belmont proves to be a “normal” race. LOL . Seriously, the jockey is very lucky he didn’t get hurt on his being not able to ‘sit a good horse.’ Thanks for stopping by dear friend.
Hi Kari, I really haven’t ever paid much attention to the Preakness, and had no idea they had a signature cocktail too! Your black eyed susans are so cute and such a fun and festive table to honor the race! Of course Maryland crab cakes are genius for your meal, and how clever to add a fresh orange and cherry garnish to a store bought cupcake! We have so much fun watching the Derby, and yesterday we just happened to be having a patio party so we hooked up the outdoor TV and watched the Preakness, everyone shouting their chosen winner on to the finish…wasn’t that start amazing when the jockey went flying off his horse, I am so glad he didn’t get trampled, scary stuff, and then his horse happily raced on without him! We were sipping Mojitos and nibbling on BBQ and roasted corn salad cups. Thanks for all the info about the race, another event I will now look forward to every year! {Oh I LOVE your driftwood chargers!}
Jenna
I know Jenna….how bizarre with the jockey sailing off his horse. And this was the horse that almost collided with the back end of the disqualified horse in the Derby. And yes, he could have gotten hurt or killed. I think there was a movie a long time ago of a riderless horse winning a horse race…can’t remember the name of it though. LOL It seems the triple crown races are showing all kinds of irregularities. We shall see what the Belmont brings us.
I think I got those driftwood chargers at Pier 1 several years ago.
Hugs my friend.