Preakness Safe, Md. Official Says After Meeting

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Maryland state official says the Preakness Stakes is "safe," but details are still being worked out on the scheduling of live racing that has threatened the race.

The Maryland Racing Commission has rejected a drastically reduced live racing schedule for Laurel Park and Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course, the home of the Preakness, clouding the future of the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's chief legislative officer, Joseph Bryce, and the state's labor secretary met Monday with track officials.

Bryce says everyone agrees on the need to sustain racing in Maryland and track owners have no interest in not running the Preakness.

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