The Preakness Alibi Breakfast: A Tale of Resilience and Hope
The Preakness Alibi Breakfast is an annual event that serves as a poignant reminder of the trials and tribulations faced by thoroughbred horses and their trainers. This year, the focus was on Great White, a hulking gray/roan horse who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby just before the race due to an incident behind the gate. The incident, which involved Great White rearing and flipping, was a scary moment for trainer John Ennis and the horse's fans.
Despite the setback, Ennis expressed hope that Great White would be able to compete in the Preakness, a classic race that many horses dream of. The trainer's optimism is shared by racing and sports fans across the country, who have identified with the horse's resilience and determination.
Ennis recalled the incident, which resulted in Great White being scratched from the Derby, but expressed confidence that the horse had not been affected by the experience. He noted that Great White has been healthy and energetic since the incident, and has even been ridden by Ennis himself.
The Preakness Alibi Breakfast also featured a variety of other trainers and horses, including Napoleon Solo, Talkin, Pretty Boy Miah, Corona de Oro, Taj Mahal, Ocelli, Crupper, and The Hell We Did. The event was held at Laurel Park, which is currently hosting the Preakness due to the rebuilding of Pimlico Race Course.
The breakfast was attended by nine of the 14 trainers with Preakness horses, and featured a variety of speakers who offered their thoughts and opinions on the race and their horses. Jeremiah Englehart, for example, threw some good-natured shade at his horse's name, Pretty Boy Miah, while Dallas Stewart expressed his pride in sending a horse out in a classic race.
The event also included a number of awards, including the Special Award of Merit for positive impact on racing, which was presented to Cricket Goodall and Dr. Dionne Benson. The Old Hilltop Award was presented to Childs Walker of the Baltimore Banner, while Charles Toler of Eclipse Sportswire received the Preakness Photography Award for 2025 for a shot of a bumping incident involving Journalism.
The David F. Woods Memorial Award, which recognizes the best Preakness story of the year, was presented to Bob Ehalt for his race recap in BloodHorse. Ehalt has received this award three times in the past.
Overall, the Preakness Alibi Breakfast was a poignant reminder of the trials and tribulations faced by thoroughbred horses and their trainers, and a celebration of the resilience and determination that can overcome even the most challenging circumstances.
