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American Morning

Ask CNN: What Is the Floral Tribute for the Preakness Winner?

Aired May 18, 2001 - 09:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We all know the Kentucky Derby is the run for the roses, but what about the floral tribute for the Preakness winner?

DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: We had a little quiz and answer earlier.

You asked CNN, and we found out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERT SACKMAN, PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA: My name is Bert Sackman. I'm from Palm Desert, California. I would like to ask CNN what is the flower that makes up the garland that's hung on the winner of the Preakness stakes?

KARIN DE FRANCIS: The blanket of flowers that's draped over the shoulders of the Preakness stakes winner is supposed to be made of black-eyed Susans, but because the flower doesn't bloom in Maryland until June, florists have had to improvise with other flowers -- first with daisies, which they colored with black shoe polish, and now with a flower from the Dutch chrysanthemum family, which pretty much looks like a black-eyed Susan in and of itself.

The black-eyed Susan was declared the state flower by the Maryland legislature in 1918, and the Preakness flower in 1940.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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