Laurel Park

The TDN Writers' Room crew sits down ahead of this weekend's GI Preakness Stakes to handicap the race, but also lament the quality of the field. Donna Barton Brothers joins the show on her last Triple Crown trail as an NBC racing analyst.

Dr. Dionne Benson and Cricket Goodall will each be honored with the Special Award of Merit on Thursday, May 14 at the Alibi Breakfast at Laurel Park. The Special Award of Merit is given to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. Previous recipients have included Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Jim McKay, Ellen Charles, Beyond the Wire, D. Wayne Lukas and Jerry Bailey. The Alibi Breakfast, which began in the 1930s on the porch of the historic Pimlico Race Course, features a gathering of owners, trainers, jockeys,...

Drawn into post nine, the honor of being the morning line favorite for Preakness 151 went to GIII Gotham Stakes hero Iron Honor (Nyquist) as a competitive, wide-open cast came together Monday evening during the post-position draw. A full field of 14 contenders, the largest since 2011 when Shackleford won, are set to go for this year's running of the middle jewel of the Triple Crown contested at Laurel Park. The race was moved as renovations continue at Pimlico downstate. Iron Honor will carry the colors of St. Elias Stable,...

The sixth-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby will be heading to Maryland this week as trainer Riley Mott revealed that Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) will be entered into the GI Preakness Stakes. "The horse is doing extremely well," Mott said by phone from Louisville Monday afternoon. "He came out of the Derby in good shape, and we have been clocking the field of [Preakness] horses and we thought it would be the right opportunity to try the horse back." He also added that Incredibolt would train at Churchill Tuesday morning...

Pretty Boy Miah (Beau Liam) moved into the 14th and final spot in the GI Preakness Stakes field Sunday following the defections of Express Kid (Bodexpress) and Smoovin Saturday (I'll Have Another). The gelding has won his last two starts in wire-to-wire fashion since trainer Jeremiah Englehart added blinkers for a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race Mar. 29 at Aqueduct. He added a one-mile starter optional claiming win at that oval Apr. 25. "These races come around just once a year and you only have one chance in a...

Chip Honcho (Connect) had his final major tune-up for the May 16 GI Preakness Stakes when he worked four furlongs in :50.20 (39/47) at Churchill Downs Sunday. Exercise rider Luiyi Ortiz was aboard for the work, which was one of trainer Steve Asmussen's typical easy half-mile moves the week of a race. Chip Honcho's big work came May 2, when he worked five furlongs in 1:00.00 (1/14). "I think we're in a very good place with him right now," said Asmussen, who won the Preakness in 2007 with Curlin and...

With a healthy GI Kentucky Derby winner bypassing the GI Preakness Stakes for the second straight year and only two starters out of the 18-horse Derby likely to be entered on Monday, the long-debated realignment of the Triple Crown race spacing is edging more toward "when" than "if." It could happen as soon as 2027, which would be appropriate in the sense that the Triple Crown is already set for a major reset by reverting to established venues and distances after being in flux since 2024 because of the overlapping...

Undefeated Taj Mahal (Nyquist) has been all the rage in the lead up to the GI Preakness Stakes, and his move Saturday morning will have done nothing to cool those feelings as the Brittany Russell trainee posted his fourth consecutive bullet move. Sent out to work five furlongs with exercise rider Alex Beitia aboard, he went in company with stakes winner Regalo (Maximus Mischief) early in the morning at 6:15am. Taj Mahal cruised through splits of :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :36 2/5, and :48 flat while leading his workmate throughout....

According a report published Thursday by Maryland Matters, the sale of Laurel Park to the Maryland Stadium Authority may not be a done deal. The website is reporting that a legislative panel is delaying the proposed purchase of Laurel by the Maryland Stadium Authority, asking for a cost-benefit review of the $48.5-million deal that was announced suddenly just over two weeks ago. While the development will not affect the May 16 running of the GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel, it could cause considerable problems for Maryland racing going forward. Once...

 Ocelli (Connect), third in the GI Kentucky Derby as a maiden and the biggest longshot in the field of 18 at odds of 70-1, is now under consideration for the 151st GI Preakness Stakes May 16 at Laurel Park. Trainer Whit Beckman on Tuesday upgraded Ocelli's likelihood for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown from "extremely unlikely" on Sunday to "maybe" Tuesday. "If you look at it from a pace perspective, it could go as fast as the Derby," Beckman said. "He's doing great. That's the only reason I'm...

After Bill Mott confirmed that Kentucky Derby fourth Chief Wallabee (Constitution) would not make the trip to Laurel for the May 16 GI Preakness, trainer Donnie Von Hemel confirmed Monday that Junior Alvarado will ride Crupper (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. "I talked to them this morning," Von Hemel said on Monday. "Since Bill's not going, that's what we were waiting on." Alvarado rode Crupper in Oaklawn's nine-furlong Bathhouse Row Stakes on Apr. 18, a victory that gave Crupper a free entry into the...

Edited Press Release The New York Knights seek a repeat victory in Maryland as the National Thoroughbred League (NTL) kicks off its 2026 season at Laurel Park on Saturday afternoon. Now in its fourth season, the NTL is a first-of-its-kind racing league that reimagines America's oldest spectator sport in a team-based professional format. By prioritizing industry participation, equine safety, and consistent, high-level competition, NTL gives fans the opportunity to follow and support celebrated horses and jockeys month after month and year after year. Beyond the track, NTL delivers a modern...