The Preakness Stakes was named for the horse that won the inaugural stakes race at Pimlico. That horse was named by its owner, Milton H. Sanford, after his racing stable in Preakness, New Jersey.
Now, 156 years later, Napoleon Solo crossed the finish line first. The horse is owned by New Jersey’s Al Gold, who won his first Triple Crown race after more than 50 years in horse racing.
After the race, Gold told 草莓传媒 he came into the sport at the very bottom.
鈥淲hen I started in the game, my first horse had a quarter of a maiden claimer,鈥� Gold said. 鈥淚 was excited back then, and now this is thrilling. It鈥檚 a big step up.鈥�
Napoleon Solo鈥檚 victory brings a share of the $1.2 million purse for Gold, and trainer Chad Summers.
Even though Lopez has won more than 4,400 races, this was also his first win in a triple crown race.
鈥淢y horse was comfortable, very, very good, especially in this race, a lot of speed, ” Lopez said. 鈥淢y horse is finished very good.鈥�
Lopez told 草莓传媒 he was 9 years old when he started riding quarter horses in Mexico, which eventually led him to the U.S.
鈥淚 come into America, and then she gave me the opportunity,鈥� Lopez explained.
Napoleon Solo鈥檚 trainer Chad Summers called the victory overwhelming.
鈥淎 long journey, a lot of ups and downs,鈥� Summers said. 鈥淕lad we’re here, and surrounded by family and friends, and glad to get the victory.鈥�
Summers told 草莓传媒, this was not the path he expected:聽鈥淚 thought I was gonna be a jockey. I was a freshman in high school. I was 4-foot-10, I weighed 90 pounds, I’ve done a little bit of everything in this industry, from top to bottom.鈥�
Now, Summers also has his first win in a Triple Crown race, which he said makes him 鈥渇eel 鈥渒ind of like Rudy.鈥� (Referring to Rudy Ruettiger, who played football for the University of Notre Dame.)
Moments after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore presented Gold with the Woodlawn Vase in the winner’s circle, he praised Laurel Park as a host site.
鈥淚 think Laurel did a fantastic job. We’re very grateful for how they really showed up,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚t’s a great day for Maryland. It’s a great day for the industry.鈥�
Dawn Moore, the first lady of Maryland, echoed her husband鈥檚 comments.
鈥淚t’s just a part of the culture, right?鈥� said first lady Moore. 鈥淭he equine industry is a $3 billion industry in Maryland.鈥�
Moore pointed out next year, the tradition continues at Pimlico, with a $400 million renovation scheduled for completion by 2027.
Plans call for Laurel Park to stop hosting live racing and instead operate as a year-round thoroughbred training center, something that concerns Summers.
鈥淭his place shouldn’t close, and Aqueduct shouldn’t close,鈥� Summers said. 鈥淲e’re seeing the sport get smaller and smaller by the minute, and that’s not good in any industry.鈥�
Summers compared that trend to leagues like the NFL and NBA, which are expanding.
鈥淲e need to get on board, because otherwise nobody’s going to remember us,鈥� Summers said.
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