Md. seeks stronger hand in keeping Preakness

I am a big fan of the Triple Crown horse racing events and I am glad that Maryland is stepping up its efforts to ensure the livelihood of its position in the horse racing industry. Each year it seems like we are so close to bearing witness to a great horse that can complete the magical feat only to fall short in the final stage. Yes, the Kentucky Derby is special because it gets everyone hyped up about the sport and the state of Kentucky is the center of attention for the day, but it is the Preakness that ultimately decides if the Triple Crown is even an option going forward. The winner of the Kentucky Derby has to win again in Maryland to have any shot at the fame and glory of the past winners. Even though I am a bit skeptical of the $1.5 billion impact that Maryland state officials estimate they generate with the horse racing industry each year, I still would like to see the state maintain its hold in the premier sporting event calender. Without the Preakness, any legitimate claim as Triple Crown winner is bl0wn away and I feel like we would be losing a valuable and storied piece of land if bankruptcy of the race track is allowed to continue in a way where Maryland no longer will have the special race each year.