The Preakness may be the middle child of the Triple Crown races, but this race will also make or break a Triple Crown contender. After all, if California Chrome wins today, then things get serious.
This year’s Kentucky Derby has just as good a chance as any colt that’s come before him, assuming that he races. Leading up to today’s race, the favorite has suffered from a bit of a cough.
Here’s what else you need to know about today’s stop not the road to the Triple Crown (hopefully):
Today’s race is shorter (1 and 3/16 miles), and the field is smaller than the Kentucky Derby (ten horses, compared to the Derby’s usual 20).
This will be the first time in the history of the race that a female horse, a female jockey and a female trainer will all compete at the same time.
while not as well known as the Mint Julep, the drink of choice for the Preakness is the Black-Eyed Susan. That also happens to be the type of flower that’s draped over the race winner.
If California Chrome wins today, he’ll be the first horse since I’ll Have Another (2012) to win the Preakness and Derby. If he wins the Belmont Stakes as well, he’ll be the first to win the Triple Crown since 1978 to win the title.
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