So much of the controversy over a Dubai company running America’s ports was debated in Baltimore, home of a busy industrial port.  So imagine the cruel irony when the horse Bernardini won the Preakness Stakes race Saturday at Baltimore’s beloved Pimlico Race Course.  Bernardini is owned and was bred by Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

But wait, there’s more.  Dubai-based Emirates Airline sponsored the $200,000 Maryland Breeders’ Cup Sprint Handicap on the Preakness Stakes undercard Saturday at Pimlico.  Check out this quote in Thoroughbred Times by Nigel Page, Emirates senior vice president of commercial operations, the Americas: “Emirates is excited to be a sponsor of the Maryland Breeders’ Cup Sprint Handicap at the Preakness Stakes.  Horse racing gives us the opportunity to share in the interests of our passengers as Emirates further establishes its presence in the American market.”

Which offers the perfect opening to remember that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the great movie “Network” — featuring Ned Beatty as CEO of the parent company of the fictional television network UBS.  Beatty’s character, Arthur Jensen, willingly embraces the Saudis owning a huge part of his company.  Jensen’s reason: America sends so much of its money to the Arabs, it’s time to get some back.

That 30-year-old argument paid off handsomely for some lucky souls at the track Saturday in Baltimore.