Goo Goo Dolls Headline Black-Eyed Susan Day Concert

Goo Goo Dolls Headline Black-Eyed Susan Day Concert

Pimlico Partners With Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure® For The Fourth Annual People’s Pink Party

13-Race Card Will Feature Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Pimlico Special, Lady Legends Race & Battle of The Sexes Jockey Challenge

BALTIMORE, March 8, 2013---The Maryland Jockey Club today announced that the Goo Goo Dolls will headline a concert on Friday, May 17 at Pimlico Race Course as part of Pimlico’s partnership with the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, an event that launched in 2010 to raise funds and aid awareness and research for breast cancer.

The People’s Pink Party includes a 13-race program that afternoon featuring eight stakes races, headlined by the 89th running of $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies and the $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3). The day will feature a jockey challenge between eight of the nation’s top active riders and the fourth annual Lady Legends For the Cure Race™.

“The day’s growing momentum and popularity allow us to offer, for the first time, an Infield concert on Preakness eve featuring a national headlining artist. Live music has always been a part of The People’s Pink Party, and with the Goo Goo Dolls performance, the weekend is now positioned to be one of the most unique entertainment experiences anywhere, combining the highest level of racing and first-class music on both Black-Eyed Susan and Preakness days,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “The heart of Black-Eyed Susan day remains our partnership with Komen Maryland. It remains our pleasure to honor many devoted people involved in the fight against breast cancer on this very special day at Pimlico.”

Grammy-nominated artists Goo Goo Dolls recently released “Rebel Beat”, the first single from their new album Magnetic due out May 7th via Warner Bros Records. Goo Goo Dolls have sold over 10 million albums worldwide, with 14 Top 10 Radio hits, more than any other artists in the history of the Hot AC format. They are the only artists to have songs on Billboard’s “Top 100 Songs from 1992-2012” chart, including the number One slot, for “Iris”. Additional information can be found at https://googoodolls.com/, https://twitter.com/googoodolls and https://www.facebook.com/googoodolls.

The line-up will include two other acts, to be announced shortly. The public infield will open at 2 p.m. with the music beginning at 4 o’clock. A full schedule will be released closer to the date.

Renowned independent promotion and production company, I.M.P., of 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion fame, booked and will produce the concert. Additional information can be found on https://www.930.com/.

Tickets for the concert will be on sale to the public Friday, March 15 and can be bought by calling the Pimlico sales office at 410-542-9400 or 877-206-8042 or at www.ticketfly.com. Tickets for the concert will be $25.

A two-day Infield combo ticket is available for $70 through May 11. Pitbull and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will headline the main stage at Preakness InfieldFest on Saturday, May 18. There will be no MUG Club or MUG Club ticketing on Black-Eyed Susan day, May 17.

The Lady Legends For the Cure Race

Now in its fourth year, the Lady Legends For the Cure Race™ was the first ever pari-mutuel race showcasing retired female riders. Profiled on NBC Sports in 2010, the race was also filmed as the climatic ending to the feature length documentary in production, JOCK, chronicling the story of the first generation of lady jockeys.

Jennifer Rowland-Small will be back to defend her title. A pioneering jockey in Maryland in the 1970’s, she guided Class Rules to a gate-to-wire score a year ago.

Zoe Cadman, Patti “PJ” Cooksey, Abby Fuller, Mary Russ-Tortora, Barbara Jo Rubinand Cheryl White return with Stacie Clark-Rogers replacing 2011 champion Mary Wiley-Wagner.

“The Lady Legends concept has been a home run for us,” said Maryland Jockey Club racing secretary Georganne Hale, who coordinates the Lady Legends race and the jockey challenge. “They are excellent ambassadors for racing. The girls have fun when they come to town and the crowd loves them. Barbara Jo is going to be 64 this year and personally I hope she gets a good draw. She is a true legend and I would like to see her win the race.”

Rubin was the first woman to win a pari-mutuel race in the United States, guiding Cohesion to victory at Charles Town on February 22, 1969.

In addition to her earnings in the race, each rider will receive a $3,500 bonus. Pimlico will match the amount wagered on the 2013 winner in-state and make a contribution to Komen Maryland.

Battle of The Sexes Jockey Challenge

The Jockey's Challenge will feature four of the North America’s top female jockeys versus four of the nation’s best male riders, competing in four races with points award­ed based upon their finish.

Competing on the female side will be former Maryland sensation Rosie Napravnik, Emma-Jayne Wilson, Rosemary Homeisterand Forest Boyce. The male lineup has not been finalized but those under consideration include Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, Mike Smith and Gary Stevens.

“Throughout the years we have had many formats but decided a boys and against the girls concept would be the most fun,” added Hale. “It is special for us to have Rosie back. She got her start at Pimlico (2005) and we are all proud of her accomplishments as one of the top riders in the country.”

The jockey with the most points at the end of a four-race competition will be crowned champion. Riding assignments are determined by a drawing Sunday, May 12, and jockeys receive points for finishing first (12 points), second (6), third (4) and fourth (3) in each race.The champion jockey will earn $10,000. Other prize money: $7,000 (second), $6,000 (third), $4,000 (fourth), $2,000 (fifth) and $1,000 (sixth through eighth).

The Lady Legends and Jockey Challenge riders will take part in an autograph session prior to the card.

The People’s Pink Party

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, was founded by Nancy G. Brinker in 1982 after a promise to her dying sister to do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

The People’s Pink Party will welcome 89 breast cancer survivors as guests to Pimlico, where they will be honored in festivities throughout the day, highlighted by an inspirational winners’ circle tribute that has become an event tradition. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised during the day will go to the Komen Maryland Affiliate to use for community outreach programs in Maryland and 25% will be used for life-saving breast cancer research.

“We are thrilled to continue for the fourth year our partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club. They remain committed as Komen Maryland to raising funds for breast cancer education, screening, treatment and support services for the Maryland community,” said Robin Prothro, CEO of Komen Maryland. “Their support translates into funding for local breast cancer programs throughout the state and for research projects across the globe.”

In recognition of Komen’s signature shade, Pimlico will once again be awash in pink on Black-Eyed Susan Day. The horses and pony riders on the track will don pink saddletowels branded with the unity logo created exclusively to commemorate the day. Additionally, the valets and starters will sport pink gear, and colorful pink linens, flowers and banners will blanket Pimlico throughout the day.

A new Ms. Preakness Pink Warrior will be crowned. The contest honoring breast cancer survivors and individuals who have made a difference in the lives of those fighting breast cancer returns for the fourth year. The winner will be chosen in part through an on-line, interactive process featuring the contestant’s own stories. The title “Ms. Preakness Pink Warrior” is in recognition of the popular anthem, “Pink Warrior”, celebrating the war against breast cancer, written and performed by Candy Coburn. Ms. Preakness Pink Warrior will serve as the official ambassador of the Preakness, representing the Maryland Jockey Club at Preakness events throughout the week, including the presentation of the Woodlawn Vase on the storied cupola following the 138th Preakness® Stakes on Saturday, May 18.

A new website promoting Black-Eyed Susan Day (www.blackeyedsusanday.com)is currently under development.

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen Maryland Affiliate

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and in 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. The Maryland Affiliate is part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like Komen Maryland Race For a Cure, the Maryland Affiliate has invested $35 million in community breast cancer program since 1993. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in Maryland. The remaining 25 percent funds national breast cancer research, often taking place at Maryland institutions. Komen Maryland is the tenth of approximately 120 affiliates in the Komen network to host two races-Hunt Valley and Ocean City. For more information, call 410-938-8990 or visit www.komenmd.org