Desormeaux Taken Off Preakness Mount | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69883/desormeaux-taken-off-preakness-mount

After being taken off his mounts at Belmont Park May 18 for running afoul of New York’s rule on alcohol impairment, Kent Desormeaux also lost his mount in the May 19 Preakness (gr. I), Tiger Walk. 

Ramon Dominguez will replace Desormeaux on Sagamore Farm’s Tiger Walk, a 30-1 shot trained by Ignacio Correas.

“It was a team decision,” Correas said. “Ramon is a great rider. We’re happy to have him.”

I talked about this horse in my 2012 Preakness ValueCapping video Rant. You can see it at www.winnersform.com/Preakness-2012

Longshot Zetterholm Barely Getting Noticed | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69865/longshot-zetterholm-barely-getting-noticed

While most media and fans were following the every move of I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister at the Preakness Stakes barn on the day before the second leg of the Triple Crown, over in stall 40 a colt that nearly nobody noticed was lazily sleeping away the beautiful morning at Pimlico Race Course.

Zetterholm, one of the longshots in Saturday’s Preakness, had just finished up his breakfast, and did not seem to have a care in the world as he caught up on his rest.

On the other hand, it must be noted that horses have been running on dirt for millions of years.

A One-Horse Race For Dirt Tracks At Preakness | WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio
http://wamu.org/news/12/05/17/a_one_horse_race_for_dirt_tracks_at_preakness

Horse racing on the Pimlico Race Track, like most in the United States, is a dirty affair, by definition.
Every one of this year’s  Triple Crown events — including the Preakness in Maryland this weekend — will be run on dirt tracks. Some members of U.S. horse racing want to end that tradition and lay down potentially safer, though much more expensive, synthetic tracks. With grandstands increasingly empty at Maryland’s tracks, critics say track owners are putting profits over safety.

Thoroughbred trainers are speaking out to protect the game.

Preakness Stakes: Trainers in Preakness Stakes say horse racing needs uniform drug testing and licensing standards, headed by commissioner – chicagotribune.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/horseracing/ct-spt-0517-bits-preakness–20120517,0,5593540.story?track=rss

BALTIMORE — While Doug O’Neill has been able to enjoy everything Baltimore has to offer during the last week and a half, his time in town hasn’t been devoid of controversy.

The trainer of Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another has been accused of “milkshaking” his horses — giving them an illegal mixture that makes them feel less tired — four times in his career.

Hard-hitting comments from Mr. Lukas!

Trainer Lukas ‘disappointed’ with peers’ behavior – Horse Racing – MiamiHerald.com
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/16/2802349/trainer-lukas-disappointed-with.html

BALTIMORE — Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas criticized the behavior of a few of his peers Wednesday, saying the actions of a few recent Kentucky Derby winners have tarnished the reputation of his profession.

Speaking at Pimlico Race Course, site of Saturday’s Preakness, Lukas said, “I’m very disappointed as a trainer that we have the stigma of some of our Derby winners not carrying the banner.”

He cited Rick Dutrow, who is appealing a 10-year suspension in New York for multiple medication violations, and Chip Woolley, who last year allegedly urinated on slot machines at a track in Iowa.