Preakness Stakes organizers are learning that revamping the image of the historic race's infield party (read: drunken boozefest) doesn't necessarily mean making it old. Now in the third year of Infieldfest promoters announced this week that Grammy Award winners Bruno Mars and Train will lighlight the entertainment -- a far cry from the good old days when the Runing of the Urinals used to be the party's prime entertainment.
It's also a far cry from ZZ Top. We're not knocking the rocker ... but the headline act in 2009, the first year Preakness organizers overhauled the infield by nixing the BYOB policy, definitely put an older spin to the infield, which suffered in attendance that year.
Last year's Infieldfest featured O.A.R. and the Zac Brown Band and attendance rebounded. The return of flowing beer -- in the form of $20 souvineer mugs with free refills -- also played a big role.
Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chuckas said the organizers have been working through the glitches.
“We did homework on our own and listened to feedback from customers to find a way to make this an even better experience," he said in a statement.
By the way, did we mention there's a horse race going on that day? The Preakness Stakes is scheduled for May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.