As thoroughbred horses thundered around Pimlico Race Course at Preakness 2023, politicians considered what could â or should â be done about the future of the track and the racing industry.
Dr. Kelly Ryan and her team, as well as the emergency medical staff, are making sure the jockeys are ready to ride, and if theyâre injured, that they get prompt attention.
Commonly known as âcompanion animals,â goats (along with ponies, donkeys, dogs, and even chickens) have been used for decades in equestrian sports to help calm anxious horses.
Merchants in the business corridor surrounding Pimlico Race Course want to expand business and community development opportunities on Preakness day and beyond, Yeshiyah Israel, president of the Pimlico Merchants Association, says.
There have been a couple of near-misses, a handful of horses that generated interest at the wagering windows, and a few genuinely outstanding Maryland-breds who, for one reason or another didnât run in the Preakness.
Marylandâs premier race sees its field cut to seven, as one of the top contenders is ruled out by Pimlico veterinarian with an unspecified left hind leg issue.
Maryland's hopes for the first state-bred champion since 1983 rest on Coffeewithchris, born in Woodbine and trained in Laurel. The long shot also represents a chance for the Salzman family to have a moment in the spotlight amid a business that is shifting around them.
We dumped âMaryland, My Marylandâ with good reason in 2021. It was a dumb, racist song written by a traitor and irredeemably associated by everyone with Christmas. It was long overdue for the dustbin. Do we require a new state song? Well, no. But do we need one? Hell, yes.
Under new protocols, every horse that runs at Pimlico Race Course this weekend will require clearance not only from its attending veterinarian but also an independent regulatory veterinarian.
Stronach CEO Aidan Butler said having two tracks in Maryland doesnât make a lot of sense. âPersonally, if I were to rebuild one, Iâd rather rebuild Pimlico,â he said.