Ladies often get the acclaim for the sartorial sundresses and wide-brimmed hats that are associated with classic Preakness Stakes style. But men often put just as much effort into their ensembles for Baltimore’s annual horse-racing ritual.
“I have photographed the women in hats for years, and they are beautiful,” says contributing photographer Lashelle Bynum, “but I love a sharp dressed man. I mean, they can really put it down.”
This year, Bynum returned to the grandstand for Preakness 150—the last year the race will be held at Pimlico before the facility receives massive upgrades—on the hunt for the some of the event’s most trendy gents. Below, she tells the stories behind 12 looks that stood out in the crowd.
Mel Harris
Dressed in colors he said he wouldn’t normally wear, Harris sported a plaid jacket of blue, brown, beige, and a touch of gray. He paired it with gray pants, black-and-gray argyle socks, and brown shoes.
Shane Lavender
From New York, Lavender grew up with horses. He wore pink to the Kentucky Derby, but for his first Preakness, he decided on this beige suit, adding a blue-and-green pocket square, green bowtie, hotdog socks, and untied brown shoes.
Kenny Simmons
A native Michigander, Simmons said he likes to take a unique approach to his clothing choices. He wore a tuxedo-style suit in two tones of purple. The lighter shade tied in with the lapel and bowtie at his neck, while the darker shade brought the suit together.
Floyd Curley
Preakness attire is nothing new for Curley, a Baltimorean who has attended for almost 20 years. For the 150th anniversary of the race, he showed up to Pimlico in a straw fedora, a blue suit with matching bowtie, plaid socks with shades of blue, and brown monk strap shoes.
Ron Gates
Michael Ross
Eugene Bell
Saturday marked Bell’s 54th Preakness. Fittingly, he was the “belle” of the ball, wearing blue-tinted shades and a gold-and-blue embroidered jacket with gold tassels to match his blue-dyed goatee. To finish the ensemble: a blue-and-white cane with a white horse head and a pair of posh silver-studded shoes.
Mr. Ricky
Wanting to pay homage to the history of the race, he chose this lightweight gray suit with a “throwback” vest. He accessorized with a black-and-silver brooch, black ankle socks, white SKX tennis shoes, a gray straw hat, a cigar, and a handsome smile.
Germaine
The Baltimore native was outfitted in a plaid suit in two-tones of blue, a blue shirt, navy tie, and flowered pin in his lapel. The navy through-line was also reflected in navy blue socks with white dots, navy suede lace-up boots, and a blue watch.
Ben Waldorf
With a goal to one-up his 2024 ‘fit, Waldorf sported a purple pinstripe suit, purple-and-white flowered tie, white pocket square, two-toned purple hat, purple shades, and “Purple Rain”-inspired Prince socks for good measure.
Lucas Pollock
The smiling two-year-old turned heads in blue-and-white striped shorts, a white shirt, blue-and-beige suspenders, and blue glasses. When his parents were asked about the inspiration for his outfit, they laughed. “It’s what we had and it fit.” Adorably, Lucas picked out his own multi-colored hat.
Duaeno Dorsey
Dorsey, who rides horses himself, was kicking back and hanging out with his uncles on Preakness Day. He said his look—mirrored sunglasses, a white hat, a blue-and-white striped shirt, navy blue suspenders, navy pants, a blue bowtie, argyle socks, and brown shoes—was an homage to the jockeys.
