Today is the 146th running of the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
The horse that is seated to win for today's race is Medina Spirit. He is trained by Bob Baffert and is the horse to beat. Although Medina tested positive for steroids for his win in the Kentucky Derby just a few weeks ago, he is cleared to race today for the Preakness Stakes after recent testing. Bob Baffert not only trains Medina Spirit, but he also trains Concert Tour. If Medina Spirit wins The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, he will be a Triple Crown Winner.
An exciting day for the Maryland community. Get your flowered hats on and get ready to see some excellent racing!
For the Preakness Stakes,10 horses are lined up to race today:
Medina Spirit
Concert Tour
Midnight Bourbon
Crowded Trade
Rombauer
Unbridled Honor
Keepmeinmind
Risk Taking
France Go de Ina
Ram
You're probably wondering why in the world is Brooke suddenly interested in writing about horses? Does she even know anything about them?
Well, my great-grandmother grew up in Kentucky on a horse farm. There is even a picture of her on Man O'War! I rode for a year on a horse named M&M when I was six at my school. Yeah, my riding career didn't last. I liked swimming more. Although I grew up in Maryland, horse country, I have to admit I really don't know too much about horses.
However, beginning in the sixth grade, I found that I would share an indirect connection with a very special horse that grew up and trained on the same land as my middle school was built.
Deputed Testimony, a Hall of Fame inductee, was the last of Maryland Thoroughbreds to win the Preakness in 1983 and is one of only 11 from to win the Triple Crown.
He is a hometown horse hero and his story became the foundation of my school, The Highlands School in Bel Air, Maryland.
Deputed Testimony was a special horse. He was a horse that beat all the odds after it was assumed that he wouldn't ever be able to race because one of his legs were too short. J. William Boniface took on the challenge and trained him to become one of the most famous horses in history.
He was different than others, but that didn't mean that he couldn't accomplish the impossible.
This idea became the foundation of The Highlands School. A child that learns differently needs to be taught differently and once taught differently can accomplish great things. Our classes were named after horses: Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, Chincoteagues, and the Palominos and a portrait of Deputed Testimony hung in the lobby to remind us to never give up on our dreams. Students at Highlands are taught organizational skills and time management techniques in ways different from traditional schools. It was the place that helped me to overcome my childhood learning difference. It was the place that gave me the confidence to realize that I could overcome any obstacle and succeed at anything I put my mind to and beat any odds placed before me.
I have never been to The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, or The Belmont Stakes, but I credit a Triple Crown winner for giving me my winning spirit to never give up!
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