Triple Crown 2018: 5 reasons you should watch the Preakness

With the most exciting two minutes in sports in the rearview mirror, these are a few reasons to continue paying attention to the Triple Crown, specifically the upcoming Preakness Stakes.

Justify won the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, writing his name in the annals of horse racing history. However, for a three-year-old thoroughbred, the Derby is only the beginning. The Triple Crown takes place over the course of about five weeks. The prep work that goes into racing in the Triple Crown takes, really, several years. That said, there is definitely a different level of intensity surrounding horse racing for those pivotal weeks.

Justify discovered that after his Derby win. Luckily, though, it appears that he was as prepared for it as a youngster can be. The morning after the Derby, his trainer confirmed that Justify will be heading to the Preakness, and a shot at the Triple Crown.

The chance for a Triple Crown is as good a reason as any to stay tuned in to horse racing, and the Preakness in particular. So far, the connections of several Derby horses have announced that they plan to skip the Preakness, and few have confirmed they intend to go.

Here are five reasons to tune into the race in Maryland.

5. Crowd watching

While the crowd at the Preakness is not as widely discussed as the Derby crowd, it’s not insignificant. Preakness Day in Maryland brings out interesting and colorful fashion. And the Kentucky Derby is not the only race to boast an interesting selection of hats. While the tradition is not as deeply ingrained in the Baltimore community, or the Preakness Crowd, they still provide a bright and sometimes flamboyant edge to the goings on. And people watching is always entertaining, especially on the biggest stages.