We gathered at Michael’s on York Avenue in Timonium for our annual crab cake dinner a few nights before the 2011 Preakness Stakes. The usual dozen or so suspects were seated at the table: turf writers, photographers, and racing publicity folks from across the country.
The crab cakes were flowing. So were liquid refreshments. So was the banter. Animal Kingdom had just won the Kentucky Derby (GI). Could he be the one to end a Triple Crown drought dating back to Affirmed in 1978? What about this rider, or that long shot, or the new shooters?