Two weeks after the 144th running of the Preakness Stakes -- the middle jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown -- Pimlico Race Course will host a fundraiser that will give horse enthusiasts of all ages the chance to walk, trot, canter or gallop on the historic race course.
The Maryland Jockey Club, the company that operates Pimlico, is hosting the fourth annual Canter for the Cause June 2. The event is a fundraiser for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, a Kentucky-based nonprofit that accredits about 75 thoroughbred aftercare organizations in North America, including six in Maryland.
Georganne Hale, the Maryland Jockey Club's vice president of racing development, came up with the idea four years ago after realizing the allure Pimlico's storied track could have for some riders who might watch races but never get to ride around the 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16th miles) of dirt track.
