HORSE racing history could have changed dramatically if one decision wasn’t made.
Journalism, the winner of the Preakness Stakes, nearly never got the chance to run there.
Journalism won the 2025 Preakness Stakes[/caption]
The horse was nearly unable to compete after wildfires[/caption]
In January, wildfires sparked up in the hills above Santa Anita, following the explosion of blazes in the Pacific Palisades.
The fires ended up becoming the second-most devastating wildfire in California history, destroying over 9,000 structures.
Before it could be contained, 18 people were killed in the fires.
The wildfires got dangerously close to Santa Anita Park, the training ground for thoroughbred trainer Michael McCarthy’s horses on January 8.
That caused him to pack his horses up onto an 18-wheeler and send them down to a safer location in San Diego.
Among those horses was a young colt named Journalism.
He was already a two-time race winner at three years old, but there was much more destined for him.
However, that would only happen if he got on the truck to San Diego.
Fortunately, it wouldn’t have mattered if Journalism stayed in Santa Anita or not.
The track survived, and was used for fire relief because of it.
Meanwhile, Journalism went right back to training without skipping a beat.
“He came home and fell right back into his routine. No problem,” McCarthy told NBC Sports.
It’s not hard to understand why Journalism is such a championship-caliber horse.
He has greatness in his blood, being a sixth-generation descendant of Secretariat.
Two months after the wildfire scare, Journalism would win his third race at the San Felipe Stakes.
Journalism is a descendant of Secretariat[/caption]
A month later he would win his fourth at the Santa Anita Derby.
Going into May, he was the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby.
He came up short, finishing second in the race, but that wouldn’t be the end of Journalism’s story.
Just two weeks later, Journalism won the Preakness Stakes by half a length, the fifth win of his career.
After nearly being lost in a wildfire, Journalism has now won over $2.8 million from his success.
