California Chrome on Saturday "cruised to victory before a record announced crowd of 123,469 at Pimlico Race Course" in the Preakness Stakes and on June 7 will attempt to become the "first Triple Crown winner" since Affirmed in '78 at the Belmont Stakes, according to Childs Walker of the Baltimore SUN. Saturday's gambling handle at $83.8M was the "sixth-largest in Preakness history" (Baltimore SUN, 5/18). DAILY RACING FORM's Matt Hegarty reported the handle was up 8.3% from betting on the race last year. Handle on the 10-horse Preakness this year was $58.6M compared with a handle of $54.15M "on the nine-horse Preakness last year" (DRF.com, 5/17). Maryland Jockey Club President & COO Tom Chuckas said Friday's Black-Eyed Susan attendance of 34,736 "was a little disappointing." Chuckas, discussing Saturday's attendance, said, "But today, with the weather change, it's very, very good." He added, "The rebranding has worked really, really well. You've got the infield. Somebody said to me, 'I don't see anybody on the (portable toilets).' The corporate sponsors started coming back. It's all come together" (Baltimore SUN, 5/18).
CALLING OUT CHURCHILL: California Chrome co-Owner Steve Coburn on Saturday, asked why his co-owner, Perry Martin, did not attend the Preakness, said, "The hospitality we received at Churchill Downs wasn't very good, and Perry Martin, he decided that he and his family were going to watch the race some place within the world -- I can't tell you where it is at because I don't even know." Coburn added, "We got to Churchill and not only did I complain, but there were other trainers and jockeys and owners who were complaining about the way they were treated. ... I've said it 50 times. Churchill Downs needs to call Maryland to get a lesson in hospitality. These people here, they've treated us like royalty." CDI VP/Racing Communications John Asher responded, "We're disappointed that the overall experience for the owners of California Chrome apparently did not measure up to the stellar performance of their horse in the Kentucky Derby" (L.A. TIMES, 5/18). Coburn said that "part of the problem was that Martin had trouble getting his 84-year-old mother back and forth on Derby day" (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/17). In Baltimore, David Selig noted Churchill has "been a bit under fire recently for its assistance" to those in the horse racing industry (Baltimore SUN, 5/18).
DOWN THE STRETCH: YAHOO SPORTS' Pat Forde wrote of California Chrome and his owners, "The little guys keep winning, reeling in the American public with every victory" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/17). In L.A., Bill Dwyre wrote, "For the next three weeks, the Sport of Kings gets to feel like royalty again." Horse racing "gets to nudge its way into all the noise and attention that the NBA and NHL are getting and baseball always has gotten this time of year" (L.A. TIMES, 5/18). Meanwhile, Coburn said that Martin and his wife, Denise, have "fallen behind in their work because of California Chrome's success." Coburn's wife, Carolyn, said that there were "no fissures among the owners, just a little exhaustion on Martins' end." She said, "They are wonderful partners. We couldn't ask for better partners. We're a team, and we will continue to be that way" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/18).
CROWD CONTROL: In Baltimore, Wesley Case noted the crowd during Saturday's Preakness Infieldfest "perked up" about halfway through singer Lorde's set, but it was "not as receptive during other parts of the concert, which was not entirely unexpected." Lorde writes "moody, minimalist pop songs that have won her many fans but are not tailored to the Infield's mostly college-age party scene." If fans were "looking for a fist-pumping experience similar to the one Pitbull provided a year ago, they likely were disappointed." Less "polarizing was Nas, the day's other headliner" (Baltimore SUN, 5/18). ESPN.com's Amanda Duckworth wrote the Preakness "bills itself as a party because that's what it is." Preakness day itself "is an odd one." Duckworth: "Where else are you going to simultaneously hear one crowd cheer for Grammy Award winner Lorde perform her hit song 'Royals' in the infield while another one cheers home the winner of the Sir Barton Stakes presented by Jagermeister?" The fact a race "named for the first Triple Crown winner is sponsored by an alcohol company pretty much sums up the day." California Chrome and his "connections are the feel-good story the sport needs" (ESPN.com, 5/17).
