Who are the secret bidders for Pimlico? That's today's piece of intrigue in the business sector. According to an article in today's Baltimore Sun, the racetrack and Preakness Stakes race that goes along with it, has attracted six bidders, only two of which have allowed themselves to be identified: The Cordish Companies and Joseph De Frances.

So who are the remaining four? According to the New York firm Miller & Buckfire, which is running the auction, "Each of them will be immediately recognizable to the constituents of Maryland." If you think about it, that doesn't leave a very large number of potential bidders who are both famous and have the money. We have no inside scoop, but some obvious names to wonder about are Bisciotti, Angelos, Ripken, Clancy and Plank. The interest of Peter Angelos in racetracks is well established, but don't rule out dark horse Kevin Plank of Under Armour. Plank bought the largest horse farm in the state, the storied "Sagamore Farm," which bred Native Dancer and had its original heydey under the Vanderbilt family. Plank told me he bought the farm after attending a Preakness where he was annoyed by some loud fans from out-of-town who were speculating that the Preakness would soon be moved away from Maryland. He claims that part of his mission with Sagamore is to restore Maryland's horse racing heritage. If he is a bidder, slots may not factor in as heavily to his thinking.

Sagamore's neighbor, Cal Ripken is another real longshot, but don't rule him out either. At the Kentucky Derby, he bet on 50-1 shot "Mine That Bird" winning an undisclosed sum. Ripken allegedly picked the horse because it's name evoked the Orioles, it wore the number 8 and was ridden by a jockey named Calvin.

Whatever the case is, it will be an interesting contest to watch. The auction is scheduled for January 8 (there's that number again) and we don't even know what horses are in the running. .