Preakness

The second leg of the Triple Crown comes as a surprise to most people.  Most think it is a little race that is run after the Kentucky Derby and before the Belmont.  Most don't know that the Preakness Stakes is two years older then the Derby, was named after the very first colt who won on the first day of racing at the fabled Maryland race course, Pimlico.  That colt was named after a township in New Jersey and the rest they say is history.  Heck the Preakness has not always been run at Pimlico and for that matter, in the state of Maryland.  It has always been the little sibling sandwiched in between it's overachieving, more famous American icons.

The Preakness has managed to endure despite the deterioration of  "Old Hilltop" and the declining state of horse racing.  Tradition is a funny thing and come Saturday the Woodland Vase(sports most expensive trophy) will be dusted off, a blanket of Black eyed Susan's(the state flower of Maryland) will be draped, and they will paint the silks of the owner of the winner on a weather vain in the Pimlico infield.  Thousands of horse racing fans will show up for the party, minus the pageantry of the Derby, but a high old time none the less.  Oh, I almost forgot.  A young colt will show up, one that just raced two weeks prior down in Louisville, and he will be the one that most have come to see.  The Preakness has something that the Kentucky Derby doesn't have it has a Derby Champion running in it.  The Preakness has only one potential Triple Crown Winner competing on Saturday, and that's what so much of this is all about.  Can this special horse capture won of the great races in America on it's way to becoming a racing legend.  Those hopes this Saturday are riding on, a young colt born in the bluegrass of Kentucky, and taking another giant stride toward horse racing immortality.

Go Animal Kingdom!