Beginning with Tuesday’s Night School and continuing through the week with race day chats and on-site appearances, the Horse Player NOW and Night School teams have Preakness week covered like a glove.

Night School, the racing industry’s FREE national online fan education program, will focus on the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes during Tuesday’s 11th of 40 lessons during the 2013 season. The 90-minute live chat, which begins at 8:30 p.m. ET, will include a lively panel discussion about the Friday and Saturday cards at Pimlico, featuring Kentucky Derby winner Orb’s chances of taking down the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s elusive Triple Crown, and a Q&A with the fans.

Hosted by Horse Player NOW’s Jeremy Plonk, who pens the popular “Countdown to the Crown” column for Daily Racing Form and serves as the researcher for NBC’s Triple Crown broadcasts, and Joe Kristufek, Tuesday’s Night School will also feature insight from Churchill Downs and KentuckyDerby.com racing analyst Jill Byrne.

BRIS will provide complimentary past performances for Friday’s Black Eyed Susan and Pimlico Special, as well as up to the minute Preakness pp’s (race drawn Wednesday).

Horse Player NOW will offer FREE, interactive race day Pimlico chats, at horseplayernow.com, pimlico.com, preakness.com and xpressbet.com (all times ET) on Thursday (12:45 p.m.), Friday (Black-Eyed Susan card at 11:30 a.m.) and Saturday (Preakness card at 10:15 a.m.). Free live video is provided by Pimlico through Livestream.

At Thursday morning’s Alibi Breakfast, the Horse Player NOW team will be honored with the “Preakness Special Award of Merit.”

Friday and Saturday, the Night School Tour, in partnership with The Jockey Club and America’s Best Racing, will set up shop in the Pimlico infield to run the Racing 101 fan hub. Jeremy Plonk, Joe Kristufek, Brian W. Spencer, Brian Nadeau, Tim Brannan and Brandi Goode will offer hands-on expertise on wagering strategies and handicapping to thousands racing fans at all levels. First introduced in 2010, the now massive Racing 101 tent includes picnic benches, television screens, a portable audio system and easy access to betting windows. Handle in the Preakness infield in 2012 topped $2.13 million.

For a complete Night School Tour schedule, click here http://horseplayernow.com/10-night-school/5-night-school-tour.

Presenting title sponsors for Night School are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Inc., and the United States Trotting Association.

The 90-minute classes are offered every Tuesday for 40 consecutive weeks through Dec. 3. Topics change weekly, and fans are eligible for prizes and rewards for registering. Registration is optional and free. There is never a charge for taking part in Night School. The weekly program is offered in three media: live chat via the “Cover It Live” live blogging/chat forum, audio/radio streaming and full video lesson plans. The media of delivery is based on the subject matter and alternates throughout the season.

This week’s Night School will be followed at 10:00 p.m. ET by the “After Night School Special,” featuring live racing from Mountaineer Park. The segment will cover the evening’s final race in real time with free, live-streaming video. Fans wishing to take part in the Mountaineer action simply need to remain in the Night School chat after class.

Night School Preakness Weekend introduction video with Joe Kristufek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuFHkZoYm3w

This week’s study materials, courtesy of Horse Player NOW: http://horseplayernow.com/images/STUDY051413.pdf