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Attend the Preakness every year and eventually there will come a realization, standing amid the insanity of the infield that once felt like the best party on Earth, that college isn’t as close in the rearview as it once was.

You’re an adult now: It’s time to graduate to the grandstand.

Taking in the middle jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown from the stands offers an incredible experience. Unlike the infield, you’ll actually get to see the horses this time. With the top three finishers at the Kentucky Derby — American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund — all reportedly making the trip to Pimlico Race Course on May 16, this Preakness sets up to be a classic. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Get the right ticket

There are plenty of seating options, from the tents of Preakness Village to suites on the clubhouse turn to the Terrace Dining Room. Many of these are not cheap, and chances are they’ve already sold out.

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As of this writing, there are still tickets available for the upper sections in the Grandstand ($115) and throughout the Concourse ($95-$135). The higher sections in the glassed-off grandstand will provide the best views of the races, but if you’d rather soak up the sun and be closer to the action, try a Concourse Apron Box. The Preakness runs a ticket resale site through vividseats.com if your heart is set on a particular seat that’s sold out.

Hoping to get the experience on the cheap? Try a general admission ticket for just $25. There’s no guaranteed view of the races beyond the televisions inside, but the higher you climb in the grandstand, the more likely you are to find a perch with a view.

Get there early

The main race of the day — the 140th Preakness Stakes — has a post time of 6:18 p.m. But there are 14 races in all, the first of which begins around 10:30 a.m. You can enter the facility as early as 8 a.m.

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Though the Preakness typically draws more than 100,000 spectators, the crowd is much smaller in the early going. Take a walk around and try different vantage points from which you can watch a race on the card. Certain areas require special tickets, but you should still be able to scout out a few great spots. The very top of the Grandstand Upper Reserve offers a ledge where you can rest a beverage and get a view of the back stretch over the tents in the infield.

Early in the day, there’s much better access to the paddock area, where horses are saddled and mounted before heading out to race. It’s a nice chance to get up close and personal with some of the thoroughbred competitors, which becomes harder to do as the crowd fills in and the stakes grow higher.

Pack a picnic

Sure, Pimlico offers such typical stadium fare as hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders and crab cakes. But did you know you can still bring your own food to the track? Here are the rules: All food must be packed in clear plastic containers that are no larger than 18-inches long by 18-inches high. Outside alcohol, coolers, backpacks and duffel bags are not allowed, so be sure to bring your containers in a grocery bag or something similar.

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People watch

The Preakness may not have the rarified reputation of the Kentucky Derby, but rest assured there will be plenty of natty attire on display. Expect sundresses and big hats for the ladies and summer suits and bow ties for the guys. Many guests try to work black and yellow — the colors of the state flower, the Black-Eyed Susan — into their ensemble. This being Baltimore and all, there are some attendees who will add a bit of quirk. Think hats decorated with decades worth of Preakness pins or plastic horses.

Bring binoculars, not only to watch the horses as they head for home, but to do some celebrity-spotting in the VIP areas near the finish line. Hint: The Sagamore Racing tent, which is owned by Under Armour founder and chief executive Kevin Plank, is sure to host its share of recognizable faces.

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Place a wager

It wouldn’t be fun to attend the Preakness and not bet on the big race. It’s even more fun to bet on most or all of the card. It’s possible, if not probable, to make a nice little chunk of change while only putting down a few bucks. (No need to risk a whole mortgage payment.)

Picking horses is far from an exact science, but a program — and you should really buy one, if only to have as a souvenir — has a wealth of information that can help bettors make pretty decent educated guesses.

There are 30 or so minutes between each race, providing ample time to really study the program. Use it. Watch the track-side tote board as the odds change and really think about the best way to play it. The “First Call” bugle call means there are 10 minutes left before the start of the race. Get that bet in!

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When you go to the teller to place your bet, make sure you state the track, race number, amount of the wager, horse or horses you’re wagering on and the type of wager, like this: “In the first race at Pimlico, I’d like $5 on the four to win.” Don’t go up there and fiddle around with the program, otherwise the track regulars are going to roll their eyes and grumble. The lines get longer as the Preakness Stakes approaches, so be sure to factor that in.

Here’s a favorite play: Find a horse with good value that you think will finish in the top three and bet it across the board — that’s actually three bets, one for win, one for place, and one for show. Thus, $2 across the board is a total wager of $6. If your pick finishes in the top three, you’ll get a chunk of your money back, possibly break even. If he or she wins, that’s a nice little payout.

But even if it doesn’t work out as you handicapped it, there’s no greater thrill than the buzz that builds as the field rounds the far turn and dashes down the home stretch for the finish, and everyone cheers like mad for their horse to come in.

Brandon Weigel is an editor at Baltimore City Paper and a horse player still learning the ropes.

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