PREAKNESS TO MOVE 22 DAYS AFTER DERBY, BUT CLOSER TO BELMONT STAKES: Changes lie ahead for Maryland’s signature thoroughbred horse race, including a new, later race day and a new, expanded network television contract. Gov. Wes Moore announced the changes Wednesday to the Preakness Stakes, historically the second event in racing’s Triple Crown. It was the latest in a week of rapid-fire developments that saw the state buy rights to the Preakness away from Kentucky Derby owner Churchill Downs, which responded by announcing a new national thoroughbred racing series that excludes the Preakness. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- The Preakness will now be run on the fourth Sunday of May, part of a new vision and TV deal for the historic race that Gov. Wes Moore announced Wednesday. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, a race for 3-year-old fillies typically run the Friday before Preakness, will move to the Saturday before. Pamela Wood and Childs Walker/The Baltimore Banner.
- The shift increases the gap between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness from two weeks to 22 days, giving horses more time to recover before the Baltimore classic. But the revised timeline leaves many questions about the future of Preakness and the Triple Crown. Moore’s new date at the end of May would leave just 13 days between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, widely regarded as the most demanding leg. Todd Karpovich/The Baltimore Sun.
OPINION: PUSHING THE TRIPLE CROWN INTO OBSCURITY? Churchill Downs announced that a new thoroughbred horse racing series was being initiated, consisting of six races. And the Preakness isn’t in it. It is hardly surprising that the Preakness was left out of this new series. After all, if Churchill Downs can’t control it, why bother including them in their brand new organized effort to push the Triple Crown into obscurity? Gov. Moore has already fired back at Churchill Downs by announcing that the Preakness will now no longer be 14 days after the Kentucky Derby. It will be…22 days after the Derby and held on a Sunday. Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin.
OPPOSITION TO CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE CROSSED PARTY LINES: As the Maryland General Assembly overwhelmingly advanced a constitutional amendment that, if approved by Marylanders in November, could reshape how the state handles future congressional redistricting, public testimony revealed opposition that crossed party strongholds. Ahead of Monday’s joint hearing, lawmakers received 132 testimonies opposing the proposal, compared with 23 in support, including 11 that requested changes to the referendum. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
EDITORIAL: ANOTHER GERRYMANDERING DOOM CYCLE: Maryland Democrats just placed a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that will let their party redistrict the state’s only Republican-held congressional district out of existence. This kicks off another gerrymandering doom cycle for 2028, which will leave the House less representative of the people and politicians less responsive to independent-minded voters. Editorial Board/The Washington Post.
LEGISLATIVE PANEL TO STUDY NEW BUILDING CODE AFTER COMPLAINTS: A Maryland legislative committee is holding up a new building code regulation amid concerns that it is less environmentally stringent than the national code, which Maryland is supposed to adhere to. In a letter Tuesday to Gov. Wes Moore, the House and Senate co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review signaled their intent to “conduct a more detailed study of this regulation and to ask that the board delay final adoption.” Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
COURT PRECEDENT MAY BODE ILL FOR ARUNDEL SCHOOLS UNDER FED THREAT: Teachers condemned the Trump administration’s threat to revoke federal funding and sue Anne Arundel County Public Schools over its gender-affirming policies. Policy analysts, however, say the White House may have a case based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Tanisha Bhat/The Baltimore Sun.
PARENTS PUSH BA CO SCHOOLS TO CUT STUDENTS’ LAPTOP USE: James Frank noticed his son’s grades sank significantly after he and the rest of his sixth-grade classmates were issued a laptop by Catonsville Middle School. Wanting to understand the correlation between the poor grades and the computer, Frank requested his son’s web browser history from the school system.The results pushed him to join a group of Catonsville parents who are calling on Baltimore County Public Schools to reduce how much time students spend on laptops. Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
MO CO VOWS TO DEFEND RESTRICTIONS ON GUNS IN PUBLIC: Montgomery County plans to defend its restrictions on guns in public places against mounting legal challenges, County Executive Marc Elrich (D) told reporters on Wednesday. “We’re just not going to surrender,” Elrich said. “If we get to a legal point and we lose in court, we lose in court. But I’m not going to surrender protections for people just because we’re dealing with folks who are irrational.” Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
B’MORE HAS BEEN RAZING VACANT HOMES; WHAT TO DO WITH THE LAND? As Baltimore leaders work to eliminate vacant homes by 2038, another city problem has reared its head: empty lots. In the past decade, the tally of vacant land parcels has increased by 17% as the city has demolished uninhabitable buildings, according to Baltimore’s housing department. Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
PHILIPPINES ARRESTS B’MORE WOMAN: A Baltimore woman has been arrested in the Philippines in the company of an alleged member of a communist insurgent group, according to a government report. The Philippine News Agency reported that Christina Pasion, a Baltimore-based activist, was apprehended last week along with an officer of the New People’s Army, the military wing of the communist party that has been in armed rebellion against the government for decades. Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun.
