With the Kentucky Derby in the books, the horse racing industry now moves to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes.
Though the Preakness doesn’t carry as much hype and pomp in the general public as the Kentucky Derby, it is equally as prestigious. Poet Ogden Nash once wrote concerning the two races: “The Derby is a race of aristocratic sleekness, for horses of birth to prove their worth to run in the Preakness.”
Indeed the Preakness is the who’s who of horseracing. Since 1909, the Preakness has run each year at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Maryland. The race is widely regarded as a true test of a horse’s ability and class. It also presents an opportunity for the winner of the Kentucky Derby to gallop one step closer to winning the legendary Triple Crown.
After winning the Kentucky Derby, Animal Kingdom has been listed as the favourite to win the Preakness at 2/1 odds.
Winning the Triple Crown, that is winning the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes is becoming increasingly difficult given the fact that most horses specialize in certain distances. It takes a well rounded, spirited horse with the heart of a champion and the right jockey for each race to have a shot at the Triple Crown.
It is the Belmont Stakes that usually makes or breaks a potential Triple Crown winner. The Belmont Stakes at 2.41 km, is the longest dirt track in thoroughbred racing. No horse has won the Triple Crown since 1978 when Affirmed went legend.
It’s a long-shot for Animal Kingdom to win the Triple Crown, but if this horse can take the Preakness tomorrow, it will generate a crazy buzz that will certainly benefit the racing industry and bring gamblers to bet in droves. Like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness is also a great time for acquisitions.
Many bookmakers find value in offering various types of props on the race to give bettors a different perspective.
