Kegasus unleashed to promote Preakness Stakes

The Maryland Jockey Club is showing no signs of holding its horses.

After the Preakness Stakes organizers used a "Get Your Preak On" advertising campaign last year to try and lure young partiers back to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the club has released a centaur mascot to lead the rowdy to Pimlico's infield May 21.

Kegasus, a half-man, half-horse creature (who sports a nipple ring on the infield event's website), has already drawn complaints from the same Baltimore legislator who complained about the "Get Your Preak On" campaign, the Associated Press reports. However, one Baltimore Sun reader says that while Kegasus may be tasteless, he's no match for 2007's infamous "running of the urinals" that led to an effort to tame the rowdy infield.

(Watch a YouTube video from the event below)

In 2009, infield attendees were banned from bringing alcohol, and ticket sales dropped 31 percent to hit the lowest infield attendance in 25 years. Last year, organizers sold beer mugs with unlimited refills for a flat $20 fee to bring the partiers back.

No word yet on whether Kegasus will compete in the infield's annual bikini contest.