First run in 1873, the Preakness Stakes was named by a former Maryland governor after the colt who won the first Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico. Annual "Preakness Weekend" races include both the Saturday Preakness Stakes[3] and a
Grade II race on Friday for fillies only named the
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.[4] Attendance at the Preakness Stakes ranks second in North America among equestrian events, surpassed only by the
Kentucky Derby.
The 149th running of the Preakness Stakes will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
History
Two years before the Kentucky Derby was run for the first time, Pimlico introduced its new
stakes race for three-year-olds, the Preakness, during its first spring race meet in 1873. Then
Maryland governorOden Bowie named the then mile and one-half (2.41 km) race in honor of the colt
Preakness from
Milton Holbrook Sanford'sPreakness Stud in
Preakness,
Wayne Township,
New Jersey, who won the
Dinner Party Stakes on the day Pimlico opened (October 25, 1870). The New Jersey name was said to have come from the Native American name Pra-qua-les ("
QuailWoods") for the area.[5] 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.[6] In reality, the term "purse", meaning prize money, had been in use for well over a century.[7]
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 10
lengths. This was the largest margin of victory until 2004, when
Smarty Jones won by 11 1/2 lengths.[8]
In 1890,
Morris Park Racecourse in the
Bronx, New York hosted the Preakness Stakes. This race was run under
handicap 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.[9] For the 15 years from 1894 through 1908, the race was held at
Gravesend Race Track on
Coney Island,
New York. In 1909 it returned to Pimlico.[10]
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.[9]
In March 2009
Magna 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 cannot find a buyer.[11]
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 and
Laurel Park, was only interested in moving the Preakness Stakes to Laurel Park unless someone else financed work on Pimlico.[12]
In October 2019, The Stronach Group reached an
agreement 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.[13][14]
The Racing and Community Development Act, approved by the Maryland
state legislature in May 2020, allows the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue $375 million in bonds for the renovation of both Stronach Group tracks.[15]
The 145th running of the Preakness Stakes was held on Saturday, October 3, 2020, a delay resulting from the
COVID-19 outbreak earlier in the year,[16] 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.[17]
In April 2024 the
Maryland General Assembly approved a bill that would consolidate Maryland thoroughbred racing at Pimlico and provide for the reconstruction of the Pimlico facility. As a result of the construction, the Preakness Stakes is expected to be moved to
Laurel Park in 2026 before returning to Pimlico in 2027.[18]
Evolution of the Triple Crown series
The Preakness is the second leg in American thoroughbred racing's
Triple Crown series and almost always attracts the
Kentucky 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 is 1+3⁄16 miles, or 9+1⁄2furlongs (1.88 km), compared to the Kentucky Derby, which is 1+1⁄4 miles / 10 furlongs (2 km). It is followed by the third leg, the
Belmont Stakes, which is 1+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.[19]
To date, the Preakness is run on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the
Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before the
Belmont 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 the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Traditions
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 of
Maryland. For many years, the
Baltimore Colts' Marching Band would lead the song from the infield;[20] in later years, it was sung by the
United States Naval AcademyGlee Club.[21] Use of the song was discontinued as of the 2020 edition of the race—the song "which celebrates the
Confederacy, is considered by some to be racist.”[22][23]
As soon as the Preakness winner has been declared official, a painter climbs a ladder to the top of a replica of the Old Clubhouse
cupola. The colors of the victorious owner's silks are applied on the jockey and horse that are part of the
weather 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.[24]
A blanket of yellow flowers daubed with black lacquer to recreate the appearance of a black-eyed Susan[25] is placed around the winning horse's neck at this time,[26] and a replica of the
Woodlawn Vase is given to the winning horse's owner. Should that horse have also won the
Kentucky Derby, speculation and excitement immediately begin to mount as to whether that horse will go on to win the
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing at the
Belmont Stakes in June.
Winning the race
In 1917, the first
Woodlawn 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 the
Baltimore Museum of Art and brought to the race each year under guard, for the winner's presentation ceremony.[27]
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 resemble
black-eyed Susans. Painted flowers have been discontinued since the first decade of the current millennium and Viking Poms, a member of the
chrysanthemum family, are now used.[28] Although the Preakness is sometimes referred to as "the race for the black-eyed Susans", no black-eyed Susan is ever used.[29][30]
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 by
CBS.
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
Purse money
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.[31] 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.[31]
InfieldFest
The race has had something of a party atmosphere in the past, especially in the infield, which is general admission.[32] 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.[32] 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.[33][34]
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 on
keg and
pegasus (though actually a
centaur).[33] The much-derided Kegasus was retired in 2013.[35] In 2010, ticket sales had recovered to 95,760 and have since stayed high.[34]
Aside from InfieldFest, the race is known for its fancy hats and official
cocktail, the Black-eyed Susan, made with
vodka,
St-Germain liqueur and pineapple, lime and orange juices.[36]
Secretariat, the 1973 winner (and ultimately Triple Crown winner) was originally credited with a running time of 1:55. Two Daily Racing Form clockers, however, had timed Secretariat's Preakness in 1:53 3⁄5, 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 1:54 2⁄5. 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.[37] Consequently, Secretariat holds the current official record for all three Triple Crown races.[38]
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
the
Darley Arabian (1700c) sire line (all branched through the
Eclipse (1764) line)[72] produced 129 Stakes winners (120 colts, 3 geldings, 6 fillies), including all winners from 1938 to present. The main branches of this sire line are:
the
King Fergus (1775) branch (all branched through the
Voltigeur (1847) line), produced 13 winners. His sire line continued primarily through his son
Vedette (1854) with 12 winners, due primarily to his son
Galopin (1872) with 9 winners (exclusively through
St. Simon (1881), most recently
Pleasant Colony in
1981).[73][74][75]
the
Potoooooooo (1773) branch[76] produced 115 winners (all branched through the
Waxy (1790) line), including all winners from 1982 to present. The primary branch of this sire line is through
Whalebone (1807), which has produced 114 winners. In turn, the primary branch continues through
Sir Hercules (1826), which has produced 96 winners (including all winners since 1984), and then the
Birdcatcher (1833) branch[77] which produced 90 winners. From Birdcatcher, the branch of
The Baron (1842) has produced 84 winners (exclusively through the
Stockwell (1849) line).[78] Birdcatcher's grandson
Doncaster (1870) sired
Bend Or (1877), whose sire line accounts for 76 winners.[79] The main branch of the Bend Or sire line continued through his son
Bona Vista (1889) with 62 winners, nearly exclusively through the
Phalaris (1913) line with 61 winners, which has dominated in the last several decades (including all winners from 1984 to present) through the following sons:[80][81]
the
Pharos (1920) branch (29 winners all branched through the
Nearco (1935) line, through his sons
Royal Charger (1942),
Nearctic (1954), and
Nasrullah (1940)). The Royal Charger branch produced 5 winners (most recently
Swiss Skydiver in
2020), the Nasrullah branch produced 11 winners primarily due to his son
Bold Ruler (1954) with 10 winners (most recently
California Chrome in
2014), while the Nearctic branch produced 13 winners, exclusively through his son
Northern Dancer (1961) with his win in the
1964 Preakness Stakes, and direct male progeny of 12 winners, most recently
War of Will in
2019, with his son
Storm Bird (1978) accounting for 5 winners (most recently
Justify in
2018).
Special notes:
An offshoot of the Whalebone (1807) branch, the
Camel (1822) branch (14 winners exclusively through the
Touchstone (1831) line), produced
1983 Preakness Stakes winner
Deputed Testimony through his grandson
Newminster's (1848) branch.[82] 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 brother
Orlando (1841) produced 6 winners (exclusively through the
Commando (1898) line with 6 winners), most recently
Carry Back in
1961.[83][84]
The Sir Hercules (1826) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Birdcatcher (1833), and the secondary branch of
Faugh-a-Ballagh (1841) which produced 6 winners (exclusively through the
Leamington (1853) line), most recently
1901 Preakness Stakes winner
The Parader.[85]
The Birdcatcher (1833) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of The Baron (1842), and the secondary branch of
Oxford (1857) which produced 6 winners (exclusively through the
Sterling (1868) line), most recently
1946 Preakness Stakes winner
Assault.[86]
The Bend Or (1877) branch produced two main lines: the primary branch of Bona Vista (1889), and the secondary branch of
Ormonde (1883) which produced 10 winners (primarily through the
Teddy (1913) line with 8 winners), most recently
1967 Preakness Stakes winner
Damascus.[87]
the
Byerley Turk (1680c) sire line[88][89][90] produced 13 winners (10 colts, 3 geldings). The main branches of this sire (all branched through the
Herod (1758) line) are:
the
Godolphin Arabian (1724c) sire line[104] produced 7 winners (6 colts, 1 gelding). The main branches of this sire (all branched through the
Australian (1858) line) are:
^Preakness 148 (MAY 2023). Preakness Weekend 2023 - May 19 - 20. Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215 USA.
[1]
^Terrell, Katherine - ESPN Staff Writer (19 MAY 2023). 2023 Preakness: Date, time, odds, jockeys, betting tips. ESPN.
[2]
^Schwartz, Tim, and Walker, Childs (May 19, 2023). 2023 Preakness: Here’s what to know, including post time, who’s racing, draws and odds, Preakness LIVE information and more. Baltimore Sun.
[3]
^Preakness 148 (MAY 2023). Black-Eyed Susan - May 19, Preakness Weekend 2023 - May 19 - 20. Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215 USA.
[4]