Father Patrick Carrion offers blessing before Preakness

Father Patrick M. Carrion offered the invocation May 15 at the “Alibi Breakfast” ahead of the May 17 running of the Preakness Stakes, following in the nearly century-long tradition set by his brother priests before him in Baltimore at Pimlico Race Course.

“Almighty God — creator of every bird in the sky, every fish in the sea, every horse in the race — we praise you and we ask you to look favorably upon us this weekend as we enjoy this 150th Preakness,” said Father Carrion, pastor of St. Matthew Church in Northeast Baltimore. “We ask that you ensure that all are safe and blessed in your name as we ask your blessings upon us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Father Carrion led trainers, owners, jockeys and fans gathered through an accounting of the famed role horses have played alongside their human companions as the crowd toasted with Black-eyed Susans and noshed on fried chicken and waffles.

“We recognize that horses typically appear in all ways always — we enjoy their storied place in literature with ‘Black Beauty’ and ‘Misty of Chincoteague,’ here in our own state,” Father Carrion said. “We admire them in equestrian sculptures of presidents, generals and monarchs on their horse. We appreciate their skills whether it’s watching Clydesdales march in a parade or the Lipizzaner horses prance in Vienna.

“Elijah [was] taken to the heavens in a fiery chariot led by horses as they symbolize throughout scripture strength, power and divine judgement. We also seem to treat them like royalty as we trace a horse’s linage as in the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who is reported to be in the bloodline of every horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby this year.”

The Alibi Breakfast dates back to the 1930s. It is named for the tales and excuses, or “alibis,” that horsemen would tell about why their thoroughbred might disappoint in competition for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

This year will be the last for the Preakness to be run at Pimlico Race Course for a few years in Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood. While Pimlico undergoes a $500 million renovation, the Preakness will temporarily be relocated to Laurel Park after this weekend’s races.

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