Preakness Week

The National Thoroughbred League (NTL), a new series of races meant to bring the team concept to the sport and to attract new fans, will put on its second 2024 event Saturday at Parx. It is called Oktober-Fast and is hosted by NBA Hall of Famer and Philadelphia icon Julius (Dr. J) Erving. When the NTL was in the planning stages last year the focus was on purchasing horses and then having them divvied up between the teams. There are currently 10 teams in the league and they would own...

Sunrise at Old Hilltop, an event which offers fans a chance to take a behind-the-scenes walking tour of Pimlico Race Course, will once again be part of the Preakness week lineup in 2024, it was announced via presser Friday. Admission is free to the tours--which run on a first-come, first-served basis between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. from Tuesday, May 14 through Friday, May 17--and patrons can sign up at the registration tent on the track apron. It will not be required to register ahead of time in order to take...

Longtime horsewoman and lifetime philanthropist Ellen Charles, who has bred or owned some of Maryland's most popular and successful horses of recent years, will be recognized with the Special Award of Merit May 16 during the Alibi Breakfast at historic Pimlico Race Course, 1/ST Racing said in a Wednesday release. The Special Award of Merit is given to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. Past recipients have included Jim McKay, Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and King Leatherbury and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance....

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) had a successful week in Maryland during Preakness celebrations with several on-site events, the organization said in a release Wednesday. With over 160 in attendance, the America's Best Racing Pre-Preakness Party to benefit the TAA kicked off the week at Mt. Washington Tavern. A total of $25,000 was raised from a silent auction, ticket sales and donations. "It was an absolute honor to once again partner with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on what has turned into a must-attend event on the racing calendar every year,"...

BALTIMORE, MD--The past two weeks has seen the kind of drama that one might expect in soap opera, laden with twists and turns that have left even the most seasoned turfwriters scratching their heads in disbelief. However, despite the all head-snapping headlines, the days leading up to this year's Preakness at Pimlico were business as usual. Thursday morning's activity matched the Baltimore weather, brisk and clear, with everything seemingly running without any major glitches. Following a brief hiatus because of the COVID pandemic, the morning tours were back in force...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on-site at Pimlico Race Course during Preakness week. The 148th Preakness S. will take place Saturday, May 20. The TAA will kick off the week with America's Best Racing's Pre-Preakness Party. The eighth annual Pre-Preakness Party will be held Wednesday, May 17, at the Mt. Washington Tavern in Baltimore, Maryland. The evening will consist of networking, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, an entertaining handicapping challenge with guest analysts, and a silent auction. All proceeds of the party and auction will benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance....

Difficulties with the dirt track base repair and cushion resurfacing project at Laurel Park continue to mount, with the loose-ended timetable for the work now expected to extend at least until the start of July. Executives with The Stronach Group (TSG), which owns both Laurel and Pimlico Race Course, said during a Friday tele-meeting that they now need to pause work on the problematic and expensive project at Laurel until management can relocate of all horses stabled at Laurel to other facilities in Maryland. This news was delivered two weeks...