BALTIMORE, 05-17-13---The Maryland Jockey Club announced today that Republic Nashville and Grammy-nominated recording artists, The Band Perry, will sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic/America The Beautiful” when Pimlico Race Course honors the military at the 138^th Preakness Stakes (G1), Saturday, May 18, also Armed Forces Day.  

Since releasing their self-titled debut album in 2010, The Band Perry has ascended to dizzying heights. Fronted by Kimberly Perry and rounded out by her younger brothers Neil and Reid, the band has notched a string of hit singles, including the quadruple-platinum “If I Die Young” (which climbed to #1 on Billboard’s Country and AC charts), the platinum “You Lie,” and the gold certified Country #1 “All Your Life” as well as their two-week #1 single “Better Dig Two,” from their wildly successful sophomore release, PIONEER, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. The Band Perry’s latest song, “DONE.,” penned by Neil and Reid Perry with John Davidson and Jacob Bryant, promises to be their next chart topper. They’ve also enjoyed sold-out tours and a showering of honors, including multiple ACM, CMA, and CMT Music awards, as well as Teen Choice, AMA, ACA, and Billboard Music award nominations — all of which has cemented the sibling trio as one of the hottest acts in recent history.  The Band Perry is currently nominated for a CMT Music Award for “Group Video of the Year” and fans can go to https://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards/nominees/group-video-of-the-year.jhtml to vote.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Band Perry to Pimlico as we proudly recognize Armed Forces Day, a cherished and respected tradition at Preakness”, said Tom Chuckas, President and COO of the Maryland Jockey Club.

The Band Perry will sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic/America The Beautiful”  directly before the fly-over by the B-25 J Mitchell Bomber, Panchito, owned and flown by Larry Kelley of Mardela Springs, Maryland. The flyover is sponsored by the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the Maryland Jockey Club. The B-25 Bombers achieved world-wide fame on April 18^th, 1942 when 16 B-25s, under the command of Lt. Col James Doolittle, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and attacked Tokyo in a daring raid as retribution for the attacks on Pearl Harbor which occurred just 4 months prior. The B-25 today acts as a reminder of our history and works to help spread awareness of the DAV to Veterans.

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.