Sports and magazines reporter

Mike Klingaman

A magazine and sports enterprise reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Mike Klingaman writes human-interest stories and historical profiles. A native of Catonsville, he was one of three finalists for the 1985 Pulitzer Prize in Specialized Reporting.

Well dressed visitors to the infield carefully pick their way through the mud at the 143rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore.

Owner’s trophy for Native Dancer’s 1953 Preakness win bought at auction by local developer

December 13, 2018 at 12:01 p.m.

Edward St. John was a teenager at Pimlico Race Course the day Native Dancer — the pride of Sagamore Farm in Glyndon — won the Preakness Stakes by a neck...

Triple Crown race-caller Larry Collmus, of Howard County, doesn’t let the weather get in his way

June 25, 2019 at 4:44 a.m.

Neither rain nor snow nor that other stuff can stop Larry Collmus from calling a horse race — though fog, like that which shrouded last month’s Preakness, comes close. And...

Former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis had suicidal thoughts after end of NFL career

May 31, 2019 at 5:01 p.m.

Jamal Lewis leaned against a chain-link fence lining the fields he used to rumble across every Ravens training camp and looked on. Ahead of him was Joe Flacco, taking questions...

Horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Pimlico this morning during Preakness week leading up to the 143rd running of the Preakness Stakes.

In return to Preakness, Justify jockey Mike Smith remembers first Triple Crown win aboard Prairie Bayou

December 13, 2018 at 4:04 p.m.

In a pensive moment Saturday, before the Preakness Stakes, jockey Mike Smith might gaze out at the track and see himself, 25 years ago, thundering down the stretch aboard the...

75 years ago, Count Fleet was a true sports hero — and Triple Crown winner

December 13, 2018 at 4:04 p.m.

Seventy-five years ago, in the midst of World War II, America needed a sports hero. Ted Williams had soldiered up, as had Joe DiMaggio and Joe Louis. In their stead...

Jockey Kent J. Desormeaux celebrates as he heads for the winner's circle after winning the 141st Preakness Stakes aboard Exaggerator in 2016.

As Pimlico spring meet begins, jockey Edgar Prado on cusp of his 7,000th career win

December 13, 2018 at 3:22 p.m.

Long ago, when Edgar Prado won his first race, the young jockey scrambled off and immediately hugged his horse. Thirty-five years later, and nearing a milestone, his devotion to racing...

Sovereign Fund(s), ridden by Archie MacAuley, left, is closely followed by Monstaleur, ridden by Forrest Kelly, in the home stretch of the 116th Grand National steeplechase.

Catching up with … Maryland Hunt Cup winners Joy Slater and Anne Moran

May 12, 2018 at 12:23 a.m.

When her mount streaked across the finish line to capture the Maryland Hunt Cup, Joy Slater described it thus: "It's like getting to heaven." It has been 38 years since...

Brooks Robinson, right, and the 1960 Orioles started 1-5 before winning five straight games and winning 89 games overall.

Thirty years ago, Orioles manager Frank Robinson received call from Ronald Reagan amid 0-21 start

July 7, 2019 at 2:23 a.m.

So the Orioles are 6-17? Big deal. They've had starts just as bad — and worse. The 1999 Orioles, a team littered with All-Stars (Brady Anderson, Mike Mussina, Cal Ripken...

Monkton, MD-4/15/17-My Lady's Manor Steeplechase Races took place today to benefit Ladew Topiary Gardens. The winner of the first race called My Lady's Manor, Lemony Bay (GB) #5 ridden by Jeff Murphy, heads for the finish line at right. The trainer is Jack Fisher and the owner is Bruton Street-US. Second place winner is Drift Society (IRE), left, ridden by Hadden Frost. The trainer is also Jack Fisher, and the owner is also Bruton Street-US. Algerina Perna/Staff.

Nearly 20 years after fall, steeplechase thoroughbred owner Irv Naylor lifted by passion for horses

December 14, 2018 at 5:17 p.m.

The chilly spring day finds Irv Naylor whirring around his 150-acre horse farm near Glyndon in his motorized wheelchair, greeting the thoroughbreds and even snuggling at times. "I love it...

Jordi Gray, 17, of Owings Mills, with her horse, Magic Man, at Willow Wood Farm. Gray is a Jemicy School senior who has an equestrian scholarship to Oklahoma State next year. She's dyslexic and is the first Jemicy student to get a Division I scholarship.

Savvy with horses, Jemicy student Jordi Gray to ride for Oklahoma State

December 18, 2018 at 5:14 a.m.

Most afternoons, Jordi Gray leaves class and drives 40 minutes to a farm in Woodbine to spend time with her BFF (best four-legged friend), a horse named Magic Man. There,...

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