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This Is One Jewel That Still Shines

May 16, 2009|By Peter Schmuck

It might be too late, but it certainly is worth saving.

The event brings in millions in economic benefits to the city and bankrolls a Maryland horse industry that employs thousands. If Magna Entertainment Corp. ends up selling the rights to the Preakness to another track in bankruptcy liquidation, it would rob the state's two major horse tracks of their main source of revenue and could hasten the end of significant thoroughbred racing in Maryland.

Pimlico is no palace, but I guarantee we'd miss it when it's gone. We'd miss Preakness Week the most, but we'd also lose a huge part of Baltimore's sports history. I don't have to tell anyone who has ever been to Old Hilltop that Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral there in 1938 in the greatest match race of all time or that it is the track where, sadly, Barbaro suffered the broken leg that would eventually prove fatal, but not before the horse's battle for life captured the imagination of a nation - racing fans and everyone else.

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Maybe Saturday it will be the place where Mine That Bird shocks the world again and takes another step toward the most unlikely Triple Crown in history, or Rachel Alexandra proves she can not only run with the big boys, but also run right past them.

Either way, regardless of how the 134th running of the Preakness unfolds, it'll be well worth the effort.

I don't really have to tell you that, but I had to tell someone.

- Listen to Peter Schmuck weeknights at 6 on WBAL (1090 AM) and visit his blog "The Schmuck Stops Here" at baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog.

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