ThePreakness Stakes is an Americanthoroughbred horse race held annually onArmed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May atPimlico Race Course inBaltimore,Maryland. The Preakness Stakes is aGrade I race run over a distance of1+3⁄16 miles (9.5 furlongs; 1.9 kilometres) on dirt.Colts andgeldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg);fillies 121 pounds (55 kg).^[2] It is the second jewel (or leg)^[3] of theTriple Crown, held two weeks after theKentucky Derby and three weeks before theBelmont Stakes.

Preakness Stakes

Previous:2024 Preakness Stakes May 18, 2024 (2024-5-18) Next:2025 Preakness Stakes
"The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown" "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans"
Class	Grade I
Location	Pimlico Race Course Baltimore,Maryland, U.S.
Inaugurated	May 27, 1873 (151 years ago)
Race type	Flat /Thoroughbred
Website	www.preakness.com
Race information
Distance	1+3⁄16 miles (9.5 furlongs)
Record	1:53.0,Secretariat (1973)more
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 pounds (57 kg) Filly: 121 pounds (55 kg)
Purse	US$2 million (2024) 1st: $1.2 million[1]

First run in 1873, the Preakness Stakes was named by a former Maryland governor after the colt who won the firstDinner Party Stakes at Pimlico. Annual "Preakness Weekend" races include both the Saturday Preakness Stakes^[4] and aGrade II race on Friday for fillies only named theBlack-Eyed Susan Stakes.^[5] Attendance at the Preakness Stakes ranks second in North America among equestrian events, surpassed only by theKentucky Derby.

The149th running of the Preakness Stakes was held on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Two years before the Kentucky Derby was run for the first time, Pimlico introduced its newstakes race for three-year-olds, the Preakness, during its first spring race meet in 1873. ThenMaryland governorOden Bowie named the then mile and one-half (2.41 km) race in honor of the coltPreakness fromMilton Holbrook Sanford'sPreakness Stud inPreakness,Wayne Township,New Jersey, who won theDinner Party Stakes on the day Pimlico opened (October 25, 1870). The New Jersey name was said to have come from the Native American namePra-qua-les ("QuailWoods") for the area.^[6] After Preakness won the Dinner Party Stakes, his jockey, Billy Hayward, untied a silk bag of gold coins that hung from a wire stretched across the track from the judges' stand. This was the supposed way that the "wire" at the finish line was introduced and how the awarding of "purse" money came to be.^[7] In reality, the term "purse", meaning prize money, had been in use for well over a century.^[8]

The first Preakness, held on May 27, 1873, drew seven starters. John Chamberlain's three-year-old,Survivor, collected the $2,050 winning purse by galloping home easily by 10lengths. This was the largest margin of victory until 2004, whenSmarty Jones won by 11 1/2 lengths.^[9]

In 1890,Morris Park Racecourse inThe Bronx, New York, hosted the Preakness Stakes. This race was run underhandicap conditions, and the age restriction was lifted. The race was won by a five-year-old horse named Montague. After 1890, there was no race run for three years.^[10] For the 15 years from 1894 through 1908, the race was held atGravesend Race Track onConey Island,New York. In 1909 it returned to Pimlico.^[11]

Seven editions of the Preakness Stakes have been run under handicap conditions, in which more accomplished or favored horses are assigned to carry heavier weight. It was first run under these conditions in 1890 and again in the years 1910–1915. During these years, the race was known as the Preakness Handicap.^[10]

In March 2009Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns Pimlico, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy thus throwing open the possibility the Stakes could move again. On April 13, 2009, the Maryland Legislature approved a plan to buy the Stakes and the Pimlico course if Magna Entertainment could not find a buyer.^[12]

Attendance at the Preakness Stakes ranks second in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including theBelmont Stakes, theBreeders' Cup and theKentucky Oaks. The attendance of the Preakness Stakes typically only trails theKentucky Derby, for more information seeAmerican thoroughbred racing top attended events.

In February 2017, the Maryland Stadium Authority released the first phase of a study saying that Pimlico needed $250 million in renovations. As of May of that year, no one showed interest in financing the work.The Stronach Group, owner of Pimlico Race Course andLaurel Park, was only interested in moving the Preakness Stakes to Laurel Park unless someone else financed work on Pimlico.^[13]

In October 2019, The Stronach Group reached anagreement in principle with the city of Baltimore and groups representing Maryland horsemen that would permanently keep the Preakness at Pimlico. As part of the agreement, Pimlico's grandstand would be demolished and replaced with a smaller structure, and temporary seating would be added to handle the attendance during Preakness week.^[14][15] The Racing and Community Development Act, approved by the Marylandstate legislature in May 2020, allows the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue $375 million in bonds for the renovation of both Stronach Group tracks.^[16]

The 145th running of the Preakness Stakes was held on Saturday, October 3, 2020, a delay resulting from theCOVID-19 outbreak earlier in the year,^[17] and setting the year's contest four weeks after the also-delayed Kentucky Derby. It was held without spectators for health reasons because of the outbreak.^[18]

In April 2024 theMaryland General Assembly approved a bill that would consolidate Maryland thoroughbred racing at Pimlico and provide for the reconstruction of the Pimlico facility.^[19] As a result of the expected demolition and reconstruction of the Pimlico grandstand, the Preakness Stakes is expected to be moved toLaurel Park in 2026 before returning to Pimlico in 2027.^[20]

In January 2025 management of thoroughbred racing in Maryland changed from theStronach Group to the newly-formed, state-owned Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). The Stronach Group retainedintellectual ownership of the Preakness, for which the MTROA pays an annual licensing fee.^[20]

The Preakness is the second leg in American thoroughbred racing'sTriple Crown series and almost always attracts theKentucky Derby winner, some of the other horses that ran in the Derby, and often a few horses that did not start in the Derby. The Preakness is1+3⁄16 miles, or9+1⁄2furlongs (1.88 km), compared to the Kentucky Derby, which is1+1⁄4 miles / 10 furlongs (2 km). It is followed by the third leg, theBelmont Stakes, which is1+1⁄2 miles / 12 furlongs (2.4 km).

Since 1932, the order of Triple Crown races has the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Prior to 1932, the Preakness was run before the Derby eleven times. On May 12, 1917, and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby were run on the same day.^[21]

To date, the Preakness is run on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after theKentucky Derby, and three weeks before theBelmont Stakes. Consequently, the race is run no earlier than May 15, and no later than May 21. One exception is 2020, as that race was run in early October due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Traditionally, just after the horses for the Preakness were called to the post, the audience was invited to sing the third verse of "Maryland, My Maryland", the official state song ofMaryland. For many years, theBaltimore Colts' Marching Band would lead the song from the infield;^[22] in later years, it was sung by theUnited States Naval AcademyGlee Club.^[23] Use of the song was discontinued as of the 2020 edition of the race—the song "which celebrates theConfederacy, is considered by some to be racist.”^[24][25]

As soon as the Preakness winner has been declared official, a painter climbs a ladder to the top of a replica of the Old Clubhousecupola. The colors of the victorious owner's silks are applied on the jockey and horse that are part of theweather vane atop the infield structure. The practice began in 1909 when a horse and rider weather vane sat atop the old Members' Clubhouse, which was constructed when Pimlico opened in 1870. The Victorian building was destroyed by fire in June 1966. A replica of the old building's cupola was built to stand in the Preakness winner's circle in the infield.^[26]

A blanket of yellow flowers daubed with black lacquer to recreate the appearance of a black-eyed Susan^[27] is placed around the winning horse's neck at this time,^[28] and a replica of theWoodlawn Vase is given to the winning horse's owner. Should that horse have also won theKentucky Derby, speculation and excitement immediately begin to mount as to whether that horse will go on to win theTriple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing at theBelmont Stakes in June.

In 1917, the firstWoodlawn Vase was awarded to the Preakness winner, who was not allowed to keep it. Eventually, a half-size reproduction of the trophy was given to winners to keep permanently. The original trophy is kept at theBaltimore Museum of Art and brought to the race each year under guard, for the winner's presentation ceremony.^[29]

In 1940, it was proposed to drape the winning horse in a garland of the Maryland State flower,Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susans. This posed a problem, as the race is run nearly two months before the flowers come into bloom in late June or July. At first, yellow Viking daisies were painted to resembleblack-eyed Susans. Painted flowers have been discontinued since the first decade of the current millennium and Viking Poms, a member of thechrysanthemum family, are now used.^[30] Although the Preakness is sometimes referred to as "the race for the black-eyed Susans", no black-eyed Susan is ever used.^[31][32]

In 1918, 26 horses entered the race, and it was run in two divisions, providing for two winners that year. Currently, the race is limited to 14 horses.

In 1948, the Preakness was televised for the first time byCBS.

The Preakness has been run at seven different distances:

• 1+1⁄2 miles (2.41 km) : 1873–1888, 1890
• 1+1⁄4 miles (2.01 km) : 1889
• 1+1⁄16 miles (1.71 km) : 1894–1900, 1908
• 1 mile 70 yards (1.67 km) : 1901–1907
• 1 mile (1.61 km) : 1909, 1910
• 1+1⁄8 miles (1.81 km) : 1911–1924
• 1+3⁄16 miles (1.91 km) : 1925–present

At its inauguration in 1873, the Preakness carried a value of $1,000. The first major increase occurred in 1919 when the race had a $25,000 value. It climbed to $100,000 in 1946 and in 1959 was raised to $150,000. Subsequent increases occurred from 1979 to 1989, when the purse rose four times from $200,000 to $500,000, before going to $1 million in 1997.^[33] On December 12, 2013, the Maryland Jockey Club announced for the 2014 running of the Preakness, the purse would be increased from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000.^[33]

The race has had something of a party atmosphere in the past, especially in the infield, which is general admission.^[34] The course had a "bring your own booze" policy until 2009, formerly including kegs of beer but in the 2000s restricted to all the beer cans a person could carry in a cooler.^[34] However, despite crowds in excess of 100,000, the BYOB policy was canceled in 2009 after videos of intoxicated people running along the tops of lines of portable toilets while being pelted by beer cans reached a large audience.^[35][36]

In 2009, with the alcohol ban, race attendance dropped to 77,850 after topping 100,000 for eight consecutive years. In 2010, and the Maryland Jockey Club responded with a new event called "InfieldFest" with performances by musical acts, the "Mug Club", which included an infield ticket and an unlimited-refill beer mug, and a mascot named "Kegasus", a play onkeg andpegasus (though actually acentaur).^[35] The much-derided Kegasus was retired in 2013.^[37] In 2010, ticket sales had recovered to 95,760 and have since stayed high.^[36]

Aside from InfieldFest, the race is known for its fancy hats and officialcocktail, the Black-eyed Susan, made withvodka,St-Germain liqueur and pineapple, lime and orange juices.^[38]

Speed record:

• 1+3⁄16 miles (1.91km) – 1:53 –Secretariat (1973)

Secretariat, the 1973 winner (and ultimately Triple Crown winner) was originally credited with a running time of 1:55. TwoDaily Racing Form clockers, however, had timed Secretariat's Preakness in 1:533⁄5, which would be a new stakes record. A hearing was held over the time discrepancy, where a video replay showed Secretariat reached the wire faster than Canonero II, the then-current record holder, but instead of giving Secretariat the record, the Maryland Jockey Club decided to split the difference and make its official time that of Pimlico's clocker, who had timed the race in 1:542⁄5. The matter was finally resolved in June 2012, when a meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission unanimously ruled to change Secretariat's final time to 1:53 based on testimony and analysis of the race replays.^[39] Consequently, Secretariat holds the current official record for all three Triple Crown races.^[40]

Other records at other distances:

Margin of Victory:

• 11½ lengths –Smarty Jones (2004)

Most wins by ajockey:

• 6 –Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)

Most wins by atrainer:

• 8 –Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

• 7 –Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968, 2013) (also the leading breeder with 7)

Sixfillies have won the Preakness:

• 2020 –Swiss Skydiver
• 2009 –Rachel Alexandra
• 1924 –Nellie Morse
• 1915 –Rhine Maiden
• 1906 –Whimsical
• 1903 –Flocarline

Triple Crown winners are inbold.

• Notes:

Timed to1⁄4 second 1873 to 1899, to1⁄5 second 1900 to 2002, to 0.01 second since 2003.

All winners have been three years old, except Montague in 1890 who was five years old.^[10]

• theDarley Arabian (1700c) sire line (all branched through theEclipse (1764) line)^[75] produced 130 Stakes winners (121 colts, 3 geldings, 6 fillies), including all winners from 1938 to present. The main branches of this sire line are:
  • theKing Fergus (1775) branch (all branched through theVoltigeur (1847) line), produced 13 winners. His sire line continued primarily through his sonVedette (1854) with 12 winners, due primarily to his sonGalopin (1872) with 9 winners (exclusively throughSt. Simon (1881), most recentlyPleasant Colony in1981).^[76][77][78]
  • thePotoooooooo (1773) branch^[79] produced 116 winners (all branched through theWaxy (1790) line), including all winners from 1982 to present. The primary branch of this sire line is throughWhalebone (1807), which has produced 115 winners. In turn, the primary branch continues throughSir Hercules (1826), which has produced 97 winners (including all winners since 1984), and then theBirdcatcher (1833) branch^[80] which produced 91 winners. From Birdcatcher, the branch ofThe Baron (1842) has produced 85 winners (exclusively through theStockwell (1849) line).^[81] Birdcatcher's grandsonDoncaster (1870) siredBend Or (1877), whose sire line accounts for 77 winners.^[82] The main branch of the Bend Or sire line continued through his sonBona Vista (1889) with 63 winners, nearly exclusively through thePhalaris (1913) line with 62 winners, which has dominated in the last several decades (including all winners from 1984 to present) through the following sons:^[83][84]
    • theFairway (1925) branch (1 winner, most recentlyBally Ache in1960);^[83]
    • thePharamond (1925) branch (5 winners, most recentlySilver Charm in1997);^[83]
    • theSickle (1924) branch, which has produced all winners from 2021 to present (27 winners exclusively throughPolynesian (1942) with his win in the1945 Preakness Stakes, continued exclusively through his sonNative Dancer (1950) with his win in the1953 Preakness Stakes, continued primarily through his sonRaise a Native (1961) with 23 winners, down throughMr Prospector (1970) with 20 winners (including all winners from 2021 to present) through 9 different sons:Tank’s Prospect, with his win in the1985 Preakness Stakes, and 8 other sons through their progeny, with his sonFappiano (1977) accounting for 6 winners, (most recentlySeize the Grey in2024));
    • thePharos (1920) branch (29 winners all branched through theNearco (1935) line, through his sonsRoyal Charger (1942),Nearctic (1954), andNasrullah (1940)). The Royal Charger branch produced 5 winners (most recentlySwiss Skydiver in2020), the Nasrullah branch produced 11 winners primarily due to his sonBold Ruler (1954) with 10 winners (most recentlyCalifornia Chrome in2014), while the Nearctic branch produced 13 winners, exclusively through his sonNorthern Dancer (1961) with his win in the1964 Preakness Stakes, and direct male progeny of 12 winners, most recentlyWar of Will in2019, with his sonStorm Bird (1978) accounting for 5 winners (most recentlyJustify in2018).
    • special notes:
      • an offshoot of the Whalebone (1807) branch, theCamel (1822) branch (14 winners exclusively through theTouchstone (1831) line), produced1983 Preakness Stakes winnerDeputed Testimony through his grandsonNewminster's (1848) branch.^[85] Since then, each winner of the Preakness Stakes has gone through Whalebone's more frequent sire line branch of Sir Herecules (1826). The Newminster branch is the more common of the two branches derived through Camel with 8 winners. Newminster's brotherOrlando (1841) produced 6 winners (exclusively through theCommando (1898) line with 6 winners), most recentlyCarry Back in1961.^[86][87]
      • the Sir Hercules (1826) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Birdcatcher (1833), and the secondary branch ofFaugh-a-Ballagh (1841) which produced 6 winners (exclusively through theLeamington (1853) line), most recently1901 Preakness Stakes winnerThe Parader.^[88]
      • the Birdcatcher (1833) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of The Baron (1842), and the secondary branch ofOxford (1857) which produced 6 winners (exclusively through theSterling (1868) line), most recently1946 Preakness Stakes winnerAssault.^[89]
      • the Bend Or (1877) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Bona Vista (1889), and the secondary branch ofOrmonde (1883) which produced 10 winners (primarily through theTeddy (1913) line with 8 winners), most recently1967 Preakness Stakes winnerDamascus.^[90]
• theByerley Turk (1680c) sire line^[91][92][93] produced 13 winners (10 colts, 3 geldings). The main branches of this sire (all branched through theHerod (1758) line) are:
  • theHighflyer (1774) branch produced 1 winner, most recentlyMontague in1890^[94]
  • theFlorizel (1768) branch produced 6 winners (all branched through theLexington (1850) line), most recentlyHindus in1900^{[95][96][97][98][99][100]}
  • theWoodpecker (1773) branch produced 6 winners (all branched through theBuzzard (1787) line). The main branches of this sire line are:
    • theCastrel (1801) branch produced 1 winner, most recentlyKalitan in1917^[101]
    • theSelim (1802) branch produced 5 winners (all branched through theVandal (1850) line). The main branches of this sire line are:
      • Survivor (1870), winner of the1873 Preakness Stakes^[102]
      • theVirgil (1864) branch produced 4 winners (1882 Preakness Stakes winnerVanguard,^[103] and 3 winners branched through theHindoo (1878) line), most recentlyBuskin in1913^{[104][105][106]}
• theGodolphin Arabian (1724c) sire line^[107] produced 7 winners (6 colts, 1 gelding). The main branches of this sire (all branched through theAustralian (1858) line) are:
  • theAttila (1871) branch produced 1 winner, most recentlyTecumseh in1885^[108]
  • theSpendthrift (1876) branch produced 6 winners (1894 Preakness Stakes winnerAssignee (1891)^[109] and 5 winners branched through theHastings (1893) line), including:
    • Don Enrique (1904), winner of the1907 Preakness Stakes^[110]
    • theFair Play (1905) branch produced 4 winners, most recentlyWar Admiral in1937^{[111][112][113][114]}

Preakness Stakes winners with male-line descendants including other Preakness Stakes winners

• Polynesian (1945 winner) – 26 winners (25 colts, 1 gelding); most recentlySeize the Grey (2024)^{[115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139]}
• Native Dancer (1953 winner) – 25 winners (24 colts, 1 gelding); most recently Seize the Grey (2024)^{[116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139]}
• Northern Dancer (1964 winner) – 12 winners (11 colts, 1 filly); most recentlyWar of Will (2019)^{[140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148][149][150][151]}
• Bold Ruler (1957 winner) – 7 colts; most recentlyCalifornia Chrome (2014)^{[152][153][154][155][156][157][158]}
• Seattle Slew (1977 winner) – 2 colts; most recently California Chrome (2014)^[157][158]
• Gallant Fox (1930 winner) – 1 colt;Omaha (1935)^[159]
• Man o' War (1920 winner) – 1 colt;War Admiral (1937)^[114]
• Bold Venture (1936 winner) – 1 colt;Assault (1946)^[89]
• Citation (1948 winner) – 1 colt;Fabius (1956)^[160]
• Secretariat (1973 winner) – 1 colt;Risen Star (1988)^[156]
• Summer Squall (1990 winner) – 1 colt;Charismatic (1999)^[145]
• Curlin (2007 winner) – 1 colt;Exaggerator (2016)^[135]

• American thoroughbred racing top attended events
• Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
• Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing
• List of Preakness Stakes broadcasters
• Maryland Jockey Club
• Preakness Stakes top four finishers
• Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
• Triple Crown Productions
• Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

• Official website