first published in the May 2025 Equiery
Head over to Pimlico during Preakness week for free, guided walking tours of the historic track. Tours run from 6-9 a.m., Tuesday, May 13 through Friday, May 16. Tour highlights include watching Preakness contenders during morning workouts, meeting jockeys and learning about their gear, visiting the starting gate, Stakes Barn and paddock, and meeting trainers, owners and other special guests. The Baltimore Police Mounted Unit will also be featured during the tours.
Each tour is given by a Maryland horseman or horsewoman who has in depth and personal knowledge of Thoroughbred racing and Pimlico’s deep roots.
Fran Burns heads up the Sunrise Tours guides and owns a boarding barn in Monkton with retired horses, two of which are her own personal off-the-track Thoroughbreds, Dustin’s Dreamer and Garcon D’or. In addition to Sunrise Tours, Fran is passionate about Thoroughbred aftercare and has been a longtime volunteer at MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in Warwick. Fran works at Canter for A Cause and can usually be found guiding horses into the Winners Circle at Pimlico. When she is not working with horses, Fran is the President of the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, Inc., which runs The Maryland State Fair and all that happens at the Timonium Fairgrounds. She also hosts Backstretch Tours at Timonium during race days. Fran takes great pride in her role there as her Great Grandfather was also President. Fran was the recipient of the 2022 Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award presented by the Maryland Million Ltd.
Wendy Chapin Albert has been passionate about horses all her life. She enjoyed fox hunting with the Green Spring Hounds, Pony Club and showing her pony and later her horse. Wendy rode on the Sweet Briar College IHSA team. She and her husband have race horses and delight in watching their foals grow, begin training and start careers at the track.
Wendy loves taking guests on Sunrise Tours. “It is wonderful to introduce people to behind the scenes at Pimlico and to point out the many artistic treasures at Old Hilltop. Sharing the backside with guests and educating them about horses and their daily routines is very rewarding,” she said.
Denise Carnes’ love for horses stems from her love of all animals. Her parents took her to Pimlico and Timonium for horse races when she was young, and she loved to watch the horses. “My dad, being an avid horse racing fan, told me the stories of the great horses of the past. We enjoyed all the racing events when I was growing up,” she said. Her love for horses was passed onto her daughter, who showed in hunter/jumper shows. “We also attended events such as Preakness, Belmont, Breeders’ Cup and the Kentucky Derby,” she added.
“I love being a Sunrise Tour guide because it brings back wonderful memories for me. I also love passing on the history of Pimlico and the traditions of Maryland horse racing to new generations of fans who come to the Sunrise tours,” she said.
Erika Taylor Crowl grew up riding with Elkridge-Harford Hunt Pony Club. When she was 15 years old, she started hot walking horses at Pimlico on the weekends for one of her Pony Club instructors. A year later, she started galloping for Kevin Boniface at Bonita Farm in the mornings before school. “Kevin was very instrumental in my riding career,” Erika said.
After graduating from college, Erika began working for the late Tom Voss, which is when she started riding in steeplechase races. Thanks to FEGENTRI (the International Federation of Gentleman and Lady Riders), she has been able to travel the world riding flat races while representing the U.S. Currently, Erika rides for various trainers in the mornings at Pimlico, all while working full-time for the University of Maryland Extension. “On my down time, I enjoy foxhunting and horse showing,” she said.
Erika loves being able to share her passion for horse racing with those who come to the Sunrise Tours. “Especially sharing Maryland’s rich racing history with others who may know little about horses in general and watching their faces light up with excitement when they come to the backside,” she elaborated.
Martha Delaney’s lifelong connection with horses began in her home town of Potomac, where she started riding at the age of eight. Her passion for Thoroughbreds and horse racing includes her unforgettable memories of witnessing in person the legends Seattle Slew and Alydar win the Preakness at Pimlico on their way to achieving Triple Crown fame.
After graduating from college, Martha rode racehorses and hunt horses professionally in Dickerson. Later, she transitioned to the show ring, competing as an amateur with her Thoroughbred, Wrotten. This ultimately led to Wellington, Florida, where they spent five years participating in the “A” show circuit including the famed Winter Equestrian Festival.
Today, Martha resides on a farm in Monkton with her husband and horses – Bella and Teddy. She has been working with Sunrise Tours since 2021 and enjoys volunteering in different aspects of the equestrian world.
Frank Douglas grew up in the Panama Thoroughbred horseracing industry. His grandfather and father were owners and many of his family members are still involved in racing. At age 19, he enrolled in Panama’s prestigious jockey school, which is named after Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr.
Frank moved to the U.S. shortly after that to pursue his jockey career. His 20-year career included over 1,223 winning mounts and 32 stake races. He mentions riding a horse named Capbodgit as a career highlight as well as riding in the 1998 Preakness Stakes.
He retired in 2004 and is currently a jockey’s agent representing jockeys JD Acosta and Johan Rosado. Frank stated, “Thoroughbred racing is a sport for many, and for me it’s always been my passion.” Frank will be at the Sunrise Tour jockey stop.
Sally Eck enjoys all things Maryland. The Ravens, the Orioles, the Maryland State Fair, and of course, Maryland racing, especially at Pimlico. Being a Sunrise Tour guide enables Sally to discuss all things racing and beyond and to enlighten the public just how versatile the Thoroughbred is. Besides prepping horses for the annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show and Fasig-Tipton Sales for Chanceland Farm, Sally is a member of the race committee for the Maryland State Fair’s race meet at Timonium. Sally also organizes College Day at the Races. You will also see Sally ringside at Thoroughbred Day at the Maryland State Fair.
Justine Howell is a third generation racing professional who owns a boutique breeding operation. Her focus is mainly on commercial sales, but she also retains some Thoroughbreds for her own racing stable.
In addition to racing, she is also very passionate about post racing Thoroughbred retirement. Justine sits on the boards of both Canter PA as well as Canter USA and has competed at the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover every year since 2014. Justine is looking forward to sharing her passion with the public.
Posey Obrecht has been around horses for as long as she can remember. She grew up foxhunting, competing in hunter/jumpers on the “A” circuit, and playing polo. Polo is Posey’s sport of choice these days. She has won two National Championships and was the Women’s College Player of the Year her senior year at the University of Kentucky.
During college, Posey worked at Fasig Tipton and also with Georganne Hale at Pimlico. Posey has been back to the track every year since college because she loves the Preakness and Pimlico so much! Currently, Posey is the Director of the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races.
Katherine Powder has lived and worked with horses, mainly Thoroughbreds, for 40 years. She foxhunted in Carroll County and is an avid trail rider. She and her husband breed Thoroughbreds on a small scale and are fierce advocates for re-homing of Thoroughbreds after racing. She and her husband retrain many of their homebreds after racing for other careers.
Katherine has worked at a large Thoroughbred breeding farm and was an Equine Vet Assistant for 13 years. Katherine stated, “Sunrise Tours introduce people from all walks of life to these amazing creatures as well as the history of racing and the history of Pimlico in particular.” She went on to add, “Horses bring people together. It’s wonderful to see the joy in the faces of children and adults.”
Lynn Russell owns a small farm in Darlington. She has successfully bred, trained, and shown horses, and worked with Thoroughbreds her entire life. Lynn works with young horses to get them ready to race. When they are ready to move on from their racing career, Lynn retrains them for the hunt field and show ring. She has enjoyed horse showing, teaching, and working with pony clubbers, 4-H riders and judging local shows. Lynn is a strong advocate for horse racing and has attended some of the biggest races in the country.
April Smith has been a Baltimore City tour guide for over 25 years. She started at Pimlico in 2006 and can also be seen at the Edgar Allan Poe House or on tours of Fell’s Pt. Although her background is in ballet and theater, she took up riding in 2000 after a retired lesson horse came into her life. She currently owns an off-the-track Thoroughbred named Bet the Cat, and a rescued Paint named Sugar. April has been a fierce advocate for Baltimore landmarks, especially Old Hilltop. She believes that the sport of horse racing is on the verge of being rediscovered if we, the fans, can help spread the word!
Donna Sullivan’s love of horses takes her from foaling babies to horse showing and hauling horses for others. Donna and her family own a horse farm in Jarrettsville where she has a few broodmares and enjoys raising babies to train and show. Her horses have competed at many of the major horse shows up and down the east coast.
Donna continues to assist with foaling for some major Thoroughbred breeding farms in Maryland. She spends her free time raising Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Donna enjoys the Sunrise Tours as they allow her to meet people and educate them about racing and the history of Old Hilltop.
Jenile Tapscott inherited her love of horses from her parents, Carylyne and Radcliff. Both Thoroughbred trainers, they passed their passion of the sport to Jenile at a young age. Jenile trained horses with her dad until his death in the early 1990s, and works with her mom still as her assistant trainer. Her work with horses is expansive, from grooming and training to owning.
Growing up, Jenile worked weekends and holidays at the track during school. After graduation, Tapscott started rubbing horses for trainer and mentor, Charlie Hadry. Her pride shows when she lists the accomplishments of the horses that thrived under her care.
Jenile’s love of animals is reflected in all areas of her life. She retired from her full-time job as an animal caretaker at the USDA after 21 years and is thrilled that she now has more time to spend with the Thoroughbreds in her mom’s stable. Jenile was appointed to the Maryland Horse Industry Board in 2023 by Gov. Wes Moore.
Her expertise and unique experiences enhance every tour she gives, and her passion makes them memorable.
Karen Taylor’s love for horses began as a teenager when she bought her first horse when Karen was 18 years old. Her family was not interested in horses, but that didn’t stop her passion for learning about all things horses. She loves foxhunting and trail riding with her friends. Over the years, she has been very involved with Pony Club, 4-H, and has attended many races (steeplechase and flat). Karen is excited to be a part of the Sunrise Tours this year and looks forward to sharing her passion of horses with others.
