Many folks feel the likelihood of the Preakness Stakes running off to Laurel Park is as sure a thing as Smarty Jones in his stretch gallop in the 2004 edition of the legendary race. For a quick refresher, Smarty Jones took the lead at the top of the stretch in that Preakness and when he crossed the finish line, there were nearly a dozen lengths between him and the closest colt.
Barring political and financial miracles, the chances of some version of Pimlico Race Course enduring on Baltimore's Northern Parkway -- and consequently, the Preakness staying in the city rather than moving 28 miles south to Laurel, Md. -- seem to be as remote as second-place finisher Rock Hard Ten's chances of catching Smarty Jones in the stretch.
And if it does happen that the Preakness winds up at Laurel Park, what might that look like?
