The Preakness, Sagamore Farm and Alfred Vanderbilt - Part One

With the Preakness is only days away, it's hard to think about Pimlico (where the Preakness is run) without mentioning Sagamore Farm and the late Alfred Vanderbilt.  Vanderbilt owned the horse farm located just north of Baltimore from the ripe old age of 21 and he built a racing empire there, most notably with the famous Native Dancer, who was born there and is buried there.

Vanderbilt bought the Pimlico Race Track and spent his life in racing as a breeder, owner, racing enthusiast and benefactor.  He dedicated his life to the sport of racing. It was Vanderbilt who secured the famous Seabiscuit - War Admiral match race (at Pimlico) in 1938.

While there is far too much history to mention in a short post (definitely more to come), it's worth noting that the famous Sagamore Farm is now owned by the founder of the Under Armour brand, Kevin Plank, and he's revived the illustrious farm (keeping it from being torn down and developed) and is racing his own horses now.  Thank you!

While I have not been to the farm, I have driven by it many times.  The house sits on top of a hill overlooking the stable and track area.

That must be Native Dancer in the mural. He won 21 of his 22 races.

 More to come!