BALTIMORE, 05-11-13---Preakness week unofficially started this morning at Pimlico Race Course with the running of the “Down the Stretch for SGK” Preakness 5k.All 406runners began the race by breaking off through the starting gate. The entire 3.1 mile race took place on Pimlico property, which included a trip around the famous dirt course, finishing in the famed infield.

Graham Peck, a 23-year-old from Baltimore finished in 17:41, 10 seconds ahead of Jason Farber. Peck’s father, Henry finished 16^th overall in 20:57 and his sister, Kaylyn, was the female runner-up.

“It was a family affair. Running on the track was really fun but it was wet so it slowed us down,” said Peck, who ran track and cross country at Dulaney High School. “It was neat running through the gate.”

Eldersburg, MD native Sherry Stick won the female division for the third time in four years, in an impressive 19:02, 86 seconds ahead of Kaylyn Peck. The 34-year-old was fourth overall.

“This is one of my favorite races,” Stick said. “I love horse racing. My family brought me to the track when I was three months old. I already have tickets to Black-Eyed Susan day and now I get to go to the Preakness (the winners received two Preakness tickets). It is pretty amazing they let us run on the same track where Secretariat did.”

Male

WIN: Graham Peck, 23, Baltimore, MD              17:41

PLACE: Jason Farber, 29, Baltimore, MD            17:51

SHOW: Joel Gladfelter, 33, Baltimore, MD          18:33

Female

WIN: Sherry Stick, 33, Eldersburg, MD              19:02

PLACE: Kaylyn Peck, 22, Lutherville, MD            21:28

SHOW: Emmy Wohlgemuth, 30, Baltimore, MD  23:22     

Other notable runners included Forest Boyce, Pimlico’s fourth leading rider, who finished 36^th overall in 23:42, and trainer Tim Keefe, who placed 22^nd in 22:06. Keefe is expected to enter Eighttofasttocatch in Friday’s $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3). Boyce will have the mount.

Every runner received a water bottle with the Preakness 5k Logo. Runners will receive a 10% discount on any regular infield admission ticket to the 2013 Preakness InfieldFest, featuring headliners Pitbull and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. The 138th running of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, takes place at Pimlico next Saturday, May 18. First post is 10:45 a.m. with Maryland’s signature race scheduled for 6:20 p.m.

Baltimore sports marketing and event management company Corrigan Sports Enterprises, Inc. (CSE) organized the 5k. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. CSE is well known to both area runners and Preakness attendees. The company puts on the annual Baltimore Marathon, which attracts more than 25,000 runners from all over the world.

Pimlico has partnered with Komen Maryland for the return of The People’s Pink Party to raise funds to aid awareness and research for breast cancer on Black-Eyed Susan Day, Friday, May 17. Highlights include the fourth annual Lady Legends For the Cure Race™, a Battle of The Sexes Jockey Challenge and the welcoming of 89 breast cancer survivor guests for festivities with a special winners’ circle tribute. The Preakness eve card is headlined by the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and the $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3). Grammy-nominated Goo Goo Dolls will headline an afternoon concert in the infield.

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.

-mjc-