Un-Stable Ground?

The 134th running of the Preakness Stakes will be held Saturday afternoon, and despite promising storylines like the entry of filly phenom Rachel Alexandra, the uncertain future of the race at Pimlico remains the hottest topic. Following Magna Entertainment Corp.'s bankruptcy filing in February, the state of Maryland has had talks with at least a dozen potential Pimlico buyers, but some wonder if other Maryland tracks like Laurel Park could handle hosting the second leg of the Triple Crown. Meanwhile, officials expect ticket sales for Saturday's race to fall 10-12% from last year due to the economy, and the new, tamer infield rules prohibiting spectators from bringing their own beverages could also impact the gate. Still, those who do attend this year's Preakness are likely to get their money's worth, as SI.com's Tim Layden writes the event is "one of the most compelling horse races in many years," and ratings "could be better" than the strong numbers for the Kentucky Derby.