Even if we do have a Triple Crown, horse racing a niche sport

Orb (center, rear) finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes, dashing all hopes for a Triple Crown run.

Patrick Semansky/AP

It is a deep race, full of fast horses and compelling stories. Non-Triple Crown Belmonts gave us Afleet Alex in 2005, Rags to Riches in 2007 and Union Rags a year ago. But it will not give us the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed, and that is a shame. Perhaps in another year. Perhaps in another decade. Perhaps never. But there is much to racing beyond pursuing that elusive slice of history. There are other days, other moments.