20 years ago: Man vs. horse

BALTIMORE - It’s been 20 years since an inebriated fan named Lee Chang Ferrell instigated one of the most bizarre incidents in racing history. With a huge crowd on hand for the 1999 Preakness, Ferrell scaled an infield fence and escaped security in time to be waiting midstretch for the runners in the Maryland Sprint. He tried to punch a horse, Artax, but missed. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

Ferrell, now 43, was jailed and eventually released on a suspended sentence. Subsequent published reports have said he lives in the Baltimore area with no recollection of the event.

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◗ The Preakness has been easily the most formful of the three Triple Crown races, with favorites having won 73 of the 143 prior runnings (51 percent), and the longest-priced winner, Master Derby in 1975, being a mere 23-1.

Five of the last 12 horses to be named Horse of the Year were Preakness winners.