The Preakness Stakes – the second leg of the Triple Crown – takes place on Saturday at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race begins at 7:01 PM EST.
Several Twitter accounts posted about potential protests at the Preakness Stakes this year. However, there are no reports to confirm.
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Animal rights activists have objected to horse derbys after more than seven colts were euthanized after the Kentucky Derby earlier this month.
Popular trainer Bob Baffert’s return after a two-year suspension was marred after one of his horses was euthanized on the track after going down with an injury.
Havnameltdown was a three-year-old black horse. It was a favorite at the Chick Lang Stakes. The colt was injured and threw jockey Luis Saez off his back but kept on running.
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After being absent from the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs earlier this month, National Treasure, trained by Bob Baffert, won the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. This victory gave National Treasure the second jewel in the Triple Crown.
John R. Velazquez’s victory on Saturday was his first in the Preakness Stakes.
“Losing that horse today really hurt but I am happy for Johnny, he got the win,” Baffert said fighting back tears, referring to the jockey. “It’s been a very emotional day.”
The Preakness was Baffert’s first Triple Crown contest in two years, making him one of the most well-known names in the sport. This happened as a result of a protracted suspension following the Kentucky Derby championship being revoked in 2021 after one of his horses, Medina Spirit, tested positive for a prohibited drug.
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Five Triple Crown races had already been won by Velazquez, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey, including three triumphs in the Kentucky Derby (2011, 2017, and 2020) and two in the Belmont Stakes (2007, 2012).
