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How to Get Tickets to the Preakness

Now that the Kentucky Derby is in the rearview mirror and the mint juleps have worn off it’s time to look forward to the Preakness Stakes. We’re just shy of two weeks away from the ponies doing their thing in the second leg of the race for the Triple Crown, so now is as good time as any to start planning to check things out in person.

This year’s race is scheduled to do its thing at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 18, and if you want to see things in person rather than on television—you’re in luck—there’s still tickets available. There’s way more options from which to choose when compared to the Kentucky Derby, as you can even get access to the Preakness InfieldFest featuring performances by Pitbull and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

If you’re looking for a good time we’d probably recommend the $70 Infield Mug Club tickets, as it includes all you care to drink beer. Just be sure to watch the cash in your wallet, as we don’t want you to bet it all on the long shot.

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How to Get Last-Minute Tickets to the Kentucky Derby 2013

If you’ve got your oversized hats and mint juleps ready, then you’re probably aware that the Kentucky Derby is set to do its thing this weekend on Saturday, May 4. Sure you can head over to the local gambling establishment to place your bet, but we’re thinking that it might be a little more exciting to check things out in person.

Thankfully there are still tickets available for this weekend’s events, and things are actually somewhat affordable if you’re just looking to mix and mingle in the general admission area. You probably won’t get to see any celebrities here, but standing room only tickets can be yours for just $40 per person.

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Giddy Up for the Melbourne Cup!

Dust off your fascinator or air out your seersucker suit, because it's Melbourne Cup time! The most prestigious horse race in Australia is just around the corner and this one is big. It's so big that Victoria, the state that hosts the cup, gets a public holiday to enjoy the races and maybe place a few bets.

In its 152 years, the Emirates Melbourne Cup has maintained its status as the Aussie horse race with most spectators, highest prize winnings, and most outrageous hats. Not everyone has their binoculars on the thoroughbreds; just like it's Kentucky counterpart, this is the event to see and be seen in your best spring fashion.

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Crazy Hat Season Continues for Del Mar Racetrack's Upcoming Opening Day

When you see ladies in gargantuan hats invade the swanky SoCal beachside town of Del Mar, it means one thing: The Del Mar Racetrack is open for the season. Get ready for an eyeful of head gear that would make even Princess Beatrice's infamous fugly fascinator look tame because racing action starts July 20.

Last year, more than 660,000 people came out for a day at the races. The lovely seaside track becomes the social event of the summer in those parts and tourists flood the area—sometimes for the entire season—just to hang out there.

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How To Get Tickets To 2011's Belmont Stakes

Unfortunately 2011 will be another year without a Triple Crown winner, as Shackleford was able to beat out Animal Kingdom in the Preakness over the weekend. However, that doesn’t make the Belmont Stakes any less interesting. This year’s race takes place in just about two weeks on Saturday, June 11 in Elmont, New York—that’s right at the base of Long Island. They’ve been running the Belmont Stakes since around 1867, so you know it’s kind of a big deal.

Thankfully there are still plenty of tickets available, but it’s a bummer that they’re only available through Ticketmaster. This means be prepared to spend your drinking money on service fees and convenience charges. The cheapest seats will get you access to the grandstand for just about $25 per person, which is best for those needing to save some cash for a little bit of wagering during the race.

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Last-Minute Kentucky Derby Tickets are Only $40

We're less than a week away from the Kentucky Derby, or as we prefer to think of it this year, the second time in a month when we'll be permitted to wear big, stupid hats (the first being The Royal Wedding). Although it's a tad too late to score the best boxes where the mint juleps come served in proper silver cups, there's plenty of tickets left for the infield, aka general admission, for the big horserace on Saturday, May 7.

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How To Get Tickets To This Year's Kentucky Derby

The Final Four is over, so it’s time to look forward one of the next big sporting events. The Kentucky Derby is just over a month away, so if you’ve haven’t made plans to get yourself to Churchill Downs now is the time to do so. We’ll let you know how to get tickets and access to the first leg of the Triple Crown, but then we're relying on you to figure out where to buy the appropriate hat.

We always kind of assumed that getting tickets to the Derby was going to be pretty challenging, but it’s actually not too tricky at all. There’s still plenty of seats available too, so no need to resort to hitting the ticket brokers and scalpers in the parking lot.

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See Horses, Crazy Hats and Cougars at SoCal's Del Mar Racetrack

Despite being home to the famed Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs isn't the only racetrack around. The Del Mar Racetrack does it up SoCal style, with a picturesque spot along the coast of Del Mar and fitting activities like a Miss Cougar contest. But that's not to say this track doesn't have serious race roots; Seabiscuit ran here in 1938.

Del Mark kicks off its 71st season on July 21. More than 40,000 are expected to attend opening-day festivities with thoroughbreds racing, an over-the-top crazy hat competition and, of course, to see and be seen.

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Down Under Gears Up For The Melbourne Cup

It might be fall in States, but spring has just sprung up Down Under and we're ready to get out and play at some of the continent's best seasonal festivals. The biggest event this season is definitely the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne. You might wonder that a bunch of horse races grabs the attention of so many Aussies and anyone visiting at the time, but the highlight of the carnival—the Melbourne Cup—is correctly dubbed "the race that stops a nation".

And you don't have to know the slightest thing about horses to get involved. Come next Tuesday afternoon, you won't be able to get service in any shop in Australia as everybody will have their eyes glued to the TV to watch the Melbourne Cup race. Over 100,000 people attend the race in person, and most of them get dressed up either in their best dress or a crazy costume; like at the Kentucky Derby, the most important thing is to have a great hat.

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Opening Today At The Del Mar Race Track: Thoroughbred Races, Big Hats

It's that time of year again, when the Del Mar Race Track opens for the season. The gorgeous race track, built along the even more gorgeous Del Mar coast, is open starting this afternoon through September 9th.

In contrast to some other Southern California tracks we could name *cough* Santa Anita *cough*, Del Mar has a reputation for cultivated classiness. There is an entire site specifically set aside for Scenester Events, with categories like "Lifestyle," "Fashion," and "Wine & Dine." They also emphasize that the race track is a frequent destination for local celebrities.

The track is also very careful to sell itself as a family destination. The first Sunday of this season is a "Family Fun Day" that includes a plush toy giveaway. The subsequent Saturday has a demure microbrew festival and a chili cookoff.

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Paris Hilton Does Kentucky

The Kentucky Derby may not be a huge draw for average joes this year, but it's still reeling in A-listers.

Well, at least the Derby-eve party on Friday night is. The notorious Barnstable Brown bash is hosted by Louisville's locally-famous socialite twin sisters Priscilla Barnstable and Tricia Barnstable Brown, in their opulent mansion in the tony Bonnycastle neighborhood. The 21-year-old fiesta has made enough of a mark on the socialite set that it even draws celebs who don't bother to stick around for the race.

In addition to Hilton, Tom Brady, Brooke Shields, and Kid Rock will be among the boldface names at the twins' house. For the first time this year, the bash will be followed by an after-party at the Sports and Social Club, a brand new downtown club, so there could be a chance to get in some late-night celeb-sightings.

Related Stories:
· Kentucky Derby 2009 Barnstable-Brown gala guest list [Courier-Journal]
· Where to Make Your Own Last-Minute Kentucky Derby Hat [Jaunted]
· Kentucky Derby Tickets Still Available, Compliments of The Recession [Jaunted]

[Photo: casaroger]

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Where to Make Your Own Last-Minute Kentucky Derby Hat

With the Kentucky Derby only three days away, we're darn sure that milliners within 100 miles of Churchill Downs are working overtime to craft last minute hats and add extra feathers for optimum flash.

Observing the parade of outrageous headgear at the Derby and downing a few Mint Juleps is as much a part of the spectacle as the horse race itself. In these economic times, noting that a spectacular hat typically ranges from $150 to $500, we fully expect more women to take to crafting their own brims or even redecorating last year's masterpiece. For this, we turn to Dee's Crafts in Louisville.

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