Watch CBS News

Preakness Sees Fourth Largest Attendance In History As Oxbow Ends Orb's Hopes For Triple Crown

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A big event for Baltimore. The city was the center of the horse racing world with the running of the Preakness Stakes.

Mark Viviano has more on the surprise finish, and the big party.

More than 117,000 fans packed Pimlico Race Course, providing the infield fashion and all out fun with concerts, concessions and cash. Nearly $82 million wagered on the stars of the show.

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness favorite, Orb, started on the far-end side rail and never got up to his expected speed.

Meanwhile, Oxbow broke out in front and never looked back, a 15-to-1 long-shot.

Oxbow, who finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby, is the best in Baltimore, ending Orb's hopes for a Triple Crown.

"I think there were so many people hoping. I felt like we had a lot of people behind us, and I'm disappointed in that respect," said Shug McGaughey, Orb's trainer.

It's an esteemed team that wins.

Oxbow was trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, and the jockey is Hall of Famer Gary Stevens. Fifty-years-old, he came out of retirement this year and ends up a Preakness winner for the third time in his career.

"I'm not going to lie to you, to win a classic at 50-years-old after seven years retirement, it doesn't get any better than this. This is super, super sweet," said Stevens.

For D. Wayne Lukas, his 14th win in a Triple Crown race. That's a new all-time record, and it was a long time between big wins for the 77-year-old trainer.

"You guys have been asking me that all week, and I never thought I left, but maybe I did," said Lukas.

Orb leaves Baltimore disappointed, headed back to his home base in New York. While Oxbow heads back to his home in Kentucky, a decision to be made as to whether he will run the Belmont Stakes.

The attendance of more than 117,000 was the fourth largest crowd in Preakness history.

Related Stories:



 

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.