Security protocols put in place for Preakness

All horses entered in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes will be required to be on the grounds of Pimlico Race Course by noon Thursday to comply with security procedures put in place for the race, Pimlico announced on Tuesday.

Enhanced security protocols for the Preakness and the two other Triple Crown races have become commonplace over the last five years. The protocols are designed to prevent tampering with horses and provide transparency to the public.

Under the Pimlico measures, all horses entered in the Preakness will have blood samples drawn on Thursday for prerace drug testing, and all persons entering a stall of a Preakness horse must sign in with security personnel. No vertinarians other than state veterinarians will be allowed in the stalls of Preakness horses within 24 hours of a race, with the exception of an emergency, Pimlico said.

In addition, Pimlico said all horses entered in graded stakes races Saturday will have prerace blood samples drawn for testing.