BALTIMORE — When California Chrome finally made his way back to the stables at Pimlico Race Course after winning the Preakness Stakes more than two weeks ago, fans cheered and rushed toward him, their camera phones held high and clicking.
One man in the scrum kept repeating: “Look at him, he knows he’s going to win the Triple Crown. He knows it. Just look.” A woman marveled at the horse’s shiny chestnut coat and big brown eyes and said: “Ooh, he’s so cute. What a good boy! He’s such a beautiful animal, isn’t he?”
His co-owner Steve Coburn kissed him on his soft, quivering muzzle, then said in a near whisper: “Do you know just how special you are? All of these people have shown up to watch you run.”
Many more people will show up this weekend. About 100,000 people at Belmont and legions more from their homes — possibly more than 10 million — will watch as California Chrome tries to become the 12th Triple Crown winner.
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