http://www.preakness.com/news-center/latest-news/security-pre-race-procedures-preakness-day-announced

less than a week from the two big races and no mention of any testing/security for the races themselves.

they will be racing at the track used to be known as Calder during November.

Every day after workouts there is a crew of about 8-10 people picking up rocks from under the polytrack surface.

Woody Stephens for SI

https://twitter.com/StableRontos/status/474018998225367040

another one bites the dust.

72 hour surveillance for Belmont, Met Mile, Manhattan and Odgen Phipps and all have OOC testing. All other stakes, horses must be on grounds by noon the day before.

http://gaming.ny.gov/pdf/05.21.14.BelmontStakesDay.pdf

the average/casual fan doesn\'t care about the \"other\" races on these big days. They rather would like to hear stories about the race that they have some interest in and the other fluff that is at the track that day.

back then they only had $1 minimums for wagers, now tri\'s are 50 cents and Supers for a dime.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/85084/california-chrome-camp-dispels-sickness-rumor

set 6.5 furlong track record today at Santa Anita going 1:10.73, breaking the old record of 1:11.10.

Turf very hard at SA.

The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Racing Commission on Tuesday announced protocol for horses competing in stakes races at Pimlico on May 16-17.

Every runner competing in the six graded stakes races must be stabled in Barns C, D or E, which are located behind the Pimlico grandstand. Those races are: Preakness, Dixie, Gallorette and Maryland Sprint on May 17 and the Black-Eyed Susan and Pimlico Special on May 16.

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi?id=44284

final time slowest in 40 years for a Derby on a fast track.

reports that main track at CD was sealed before first race despite no precipitation.

all it takes its one or two not ready and don\'t get away like they should and can change the whole completion of the race.