Just one day out of the box and lovingtheracehorse.com is busy. I love it - and I hope you do as well. I really appreciate you stopping by and sending your colleaugues as well. Keep it going.

Yesterday I got a surprise email from someone who loaded me with some information about PETA plans for Saturday. So if you are planning to be at the Preakness you'll now know what to avoid - so your day is as fun as mine will be.

"PETA expects 150 protestors on Winner Ave, between Hayward and West Rodgers, on Preakness day.  The orignal time was to be 4:30 but that has been changed to 12-2:00.  The officials that were notified have show little interest because this street is not a nice part of town ("unsafe") and that there will be so many people that no one will pay them any attention."

Having not been to Pimlico before - I dediced to head to maps.google.com and put in Pimlico's address and Winner Ave. for directions. If you use the satellite imagery button - you can blow it up and see that the protestors won't really be in the way (I mean they are always in the way but...). It looks to me that they will be outside the parking area not near the track. So - just try to avoid driving down Winner Ave. - get on Hayward Ave. - I may be wrong (because I'm going by vision - not experience) but I just wanted to inform people - so that you can really maximize Saturday's experience - and not deal with the minimized mentality of PETA and it's members.

I already know of people planning on watching the Preakness, the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown, from places other than Pimlico. Today and yesterday I got emails from people planning to be at Tampa Bay Downs, SunRay Park, and Keeneland. In addition to numerous people planning on watching from home - and don't forget here in Lexington we have the unique opportunity to do drive-thru betting at Keeneland. Where will you be?

The draw for the race is tomorrow, May 14th - you can watch it on ESPN2 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. EST. The current contenders are below. Who do you like? My current picks are bolded - more on that after the draw.

Behindatthebar, Big Brown, Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Icabad Crane, Kentucky Bear, Macho Again, Racecar Rhapsody, Riley Tucker, Stevil, Tres Borrachos, Yankee Bravo.

Just remember - going to the track, watching a racing event on TV, visiting related industry websites, reading my blog (now you know I have to promote me a bit) and getting informed - all of those habits contribute to our future.

Take someone new to the races!