Preakness Stakes

Preakness Stakes. The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred stakes race held annually on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the second jewel of the American Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. First run in 1873, the race is named for the colt Preakness, who won the Dinner Party Stakes on the day Pimlico opened in 1870.

History

The Preakness Stakes was inaugurated in 1873 at Pimlico Race Course, which was founded by the Maryland Jockey Club. The race was named for the colt Preakness, owned by former Governor of Maryland Orem. The inaugural running was won by a horse named Survivor. After being held at Gravesend Race Track in New York from 1890 to 1908, the race returned permanently to Baltimore in 1909. The event has been run continuously except for cancellations in 1891 and 1892, and was not held from 1894 to 1908. Key figures in its early promotion included prominent horsemen like Sanford and Belmont. The race gained national prominence as the middle leg of the Triple Crown, a series formally recognized in the 1930s after Gallant Fox's 1930 sweep.

The race

The Preakness Stakes is run at a distance of one and three-sixteenth miles (9.5 furlongs) on a dirt track. It is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds, with colts and geldings carrying 126 pounds and fillies carrying 121 pounds. The race typically draws the winner and other top finishers from the Kentucky Derby, held two weeks prior. The course at Pimlico Race Course features a tight, clubhouse turn that challenges the field shortly after the start. Strategic positioning is critical, as the short stretch run favors horses with tactical speed. The current purse is $2 million, with the winner receiving $1.2 million. The race is broadcast nationally by NBC as part of its Triple Crown coverage.

Traditions

The Preakness Stakes is surrounded by distinctive traditions, most notably the painting of the Woodlawn Vase and the hanging of the Black-Eyed Susan blanket. The Woodlawn Vase, crafted by Tiffany & Co. in 1860, is one of the most valuable trophies in American sports; the winning owner receives a sterling silver replica. The victor is draped with a garland of Black-Eyed Susans, the state flower of Maryland, though the flowers used are actually Viking daisies due to seasonal availability. The event's infield festival, known for concerts and the InfieldFest, draws large crowds. The official drink is the Black-Eyed Susan cocktail, and the song "Maryland, My Maryland" is played during the winner's ceremony.

Records

The speed record for the Preakness Stakes is 1:53.00, set by Secretariat in 1973 during his Triple Crown campaign. The record for the largest margin of victory is 11½ lengths, achieved by Smarty Jones in 2004. The most successful jockey is Eddie Arcaro, who won the race six times aboard horses like Whirlaway and Citation. Trainer R. Wyndham Walden holds the record for most training victories with seven, all in the 19th century. The youngest winning jockey was Alonzo Clayton, who was 15 when he won in 1892. The greatest longshot winner was Master Derby in 1975, who paid $48.80 on a $2 win bet.

Notable winners

Notable winners of the Preakness Stakes include many Triple Crown champions. Secretariat (1973) set the still-standing track record. Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) each won the Preakness en route to their Triple Crowns. American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) are the most recent to complete the sweep. Other legendary winners include Man o' War's son War Admiral (1937), the filly Rachel Alexandra (2009), who defeated colts, and California Chrome (2014). The 1918 winner, War Cloud, was a notable son of the influential sire Polymelus. The race has also been won by prominent horses like Native Dancer (1953) and Sunday Silence (1989).

Category:Thoroughbred horse races in the United States Category:Sports in Baltimore Category:Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing