On Saturday, May 10, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association in partnership with Domino Sugar held the inaugural Ponies in the Park event in downtown Baltimore at Latrobe Park to kick-off a week's worth of events celebrating Preakness and the Maryland horse industry.

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It was a beautiful morning at Latrobe Park in the heart of Baltimore, and over 200 people turned out for free pony rides from 10am-12pm at the very first Ponies in the Park event. Guests were treated to face painting and a meet-and-greet with champion Maryland-bred Heros Reward. The first 50 guests also received a Colts are Back goodie bag.

Heros Reward, who made the journey from Summer Wind Farm with Laurie Calhoun and The Foxie G Foundation, was champion Maryland-bred Turf Runner from 2007-2009, and champion Sprinter from 2007-2008. He was an impressive figure in the middle of the city, and was never short on admirers (or sugar cubes) during the event.  Heros Reward was bred by Gretchen Mobberly and owned by Rob Ry Farm and Jayne Marie Slysz, and is now permanently retired at Summer Wind Farm in Libertytown, Md. His career stands at 16 wins from 58 starts, and he amassed more than $1.3 million in earnings.