Hats off to the ladies’ hats at Preakness

Fashionistas, what’s a horserace without a really cute hat?

Horse trainer Doug O’Neill was overjoyed and mighty proud as his horse “I'll Have Another” won the 137th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 19, 2012 in Baltimore, MD.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez who rode I'll Have Another to victory was of course over the moon, donning his lavender and white jockey’s silks and matching lavender hat. Yours truly is always intrigued by what the jockeys wear. However, it’s equally fun checking out the hats on the spectators at the races…

And there were some fierce contender this year, in particular the gorgeous mauve hat with pretty orchids on it, the black and white polka dot hat and the yellow marabou adorned short brimmed hat.

Sadly, far too many women opted for simple baseball caps or the commemorative red baseball cap with the yellow and black “137th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course” logo.

Others wore Western style Shady Brady hats or even fedoras. But somehow, it’s sort of expected to dress up a bit as you’re sipping cocktails and don that pretty or eccentric hat for a horserace, don’t you think? So, I take my hat off to all those ladies who went the distance and donned that fascinator to the races…

Congrats to I’ll Have Another for winning the race! Take a look at the hats worn this year at the 137th Preakness Stakes in my slide show…