California Chrome Wins Preakness, But Could Abandon Triple Crown Bid

With a win at yesterday's Preakness Stakes, California Chrome has won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but trainer Art Sherman today suggested that the horse "might not run in the June 7 Belmont Stakes" if officials "won't let him wear the nasal strip he's worn" in six consecutive wins (USATODAY.com, 5/18). Yesterday's race saw "a record announced crowd of 123,469," while Pimlico Race Course's full-day gambling handle of $83.8M "was the sixth largest in Preakness history" (Baltimore SUN, 5/18). The $58.6M handle for the Preakness Stakes was up 8.3% over last year (DRF.com, 5/17).

Meanwhile, NBC earned a 6.3 overnight rating for the race segment of the Preakness Stakes telecast. That figure is the best for the Preakness since '10 and up 5% from a 6.0 last year. Baltimore led all markets with a 17.2 local rating, up from a 15.7 last year. Louisville's 16.6 was the next best local rating, up from a 15.0 in '13 (THE DAILY).