Preakness post time not affected by storm

Pimlico decided not to delay the start of Saturday’s rain-deluged Preakness Stakes because the worst of the storm that hit shortly before the race had already passed the track, according to Sal Sinatra, the track’s general manager.

The gates for the Preakness opened at 6:21, three minutes past the scheduled post time. By that time, rain had been falling at the track for approximately 15 minutes, but the heaviest portion of the storm had migrated to the east, Sinatra said, with no danger remaining for horses and jockeys.

“The thunder and the lightning had already passed,” Sinatra said, adding that he was in constant contact with his two track superintendents, fire department personnel, and television officials. “I just thought it was safest to get up to the gate and go. My team was watching the radars saying it was safe to go.”

Sinatra said the alternate choice would have been to send the Preakness entrants back indoors to Pimlico’s saddling ring. However, that area was already packed with people seeking shelter from the storm, a situation Sinatra said would have made it “dangerous” to re-enter the ring, for both horses and people.

Sinatra said that NBC left it up to him to determine if the race should be delayed. In a statement, NBC spokesman Dan Masonson said, “We were in contact with the Maryland Jockey Club and the chief steward and communicated that we are there to cover the event, whenever it takes place.”