The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies 121 lb (55 kg). It is the second leg of the US Triple Crown, with the Kentucky Derby preceding it and the Belmont Stakes following it. The horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown.

The Preakness Stakes has been termed "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" because a blanket of chrysanthemums, decorated to look like Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta, the state flower of Maryland) is traditionally placed around the winner's neck. (Actual Black-eyed Susans are not in season during the Preakness.) The attendance at the Preakness Stakes ranks second in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the Belmont Stakes, the Breeders' Cup and the Kentucky Oaks. The attendance of the Preakness Stakes typically only trails the Kentucky Derby, for more information see American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events.

History[link]

Two years before the Preakness was run for the first time, Pimlico introduced its new stakes race for three-year-olds, the Preakness, during its first-ever spring race meet in 1873. Former Maryland Governor Oden Bowie named the then mile and one-half (2.41 km) race in honor of the colt Preakness from Milton Holbrook Sanford's Preakness Stables 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 ("Quail Woods") for the area.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

In 1890 Morris Park Racecourse in the Bronx, New York hosted the Preakness Stakes after which there was no race run for three years. 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Evolution of the Triple Crown series[link]

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 9½ furlongs, compared to the Kentucky Derby, which is 1¼ miles. It is followed by the third leg, the Belmont Stakes, which is 1½ miles.

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.^[6]

Today, the Preakness is run on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes. Consequently, it can never be run before May 15, nor after May 21.

Running the race[link]

Just after the horses for the Preakness are called to the post, the audience is invited to sing "Maryland, My Maryland", the official state song of Maryland. Traditionally, the Baltimore Colts' Marching Band led the song from the infield.^[7] Today, the United States Naval Academy Glee Club leads the song.^[8]

Sir Barton, winner in 1919

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.^[9]

A blanket of yellow flowers daubed with black lacquer to recreate the appearance of a black-eyed Susan^[10] (see below) is placed around the winning horse's neck at this time,^[11] 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[link]

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.^[12]

In 1940, it was proposed to drape the winning horse in a garland of black-eyed Susans, the state flower of Maryland. 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 daisies were painted to resemble black-eyed Susans; workers switched to chrysanthemums later. Although the Preakness is sometimes referred to as "the race for the black-eyed Susans", no black-eyed Susan is ever used.^[13][14]

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:

• 1½ miles (2.41 km) : 1873–1888, 1890
• 1¼ 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
• 1⅛ miles (1.81 km) : 1911–1924
• 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) : 1925–present

Records[link]

Speed record:

• 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) - 1:53 2/5 - Tank's Prospect (1985), Louis Quatorze (1996), Curlin (2007)
• 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) - 1:53 3/5 - Gate Dancer (1984) and Summer Squall (1990)

notes: Prior to 1992 all times were measured in 1/5 of a seconds. In 1992 and after technology permitted times to be measured in 1/100 of a second, but all times are rounded down to the nearest 1/5 of a second for comparison purposes.
Secretariat, the 1973 winner, is credited with running 1:53 2/5 by the Daily Racing Form. However, the timer malfunctioned during that race, stopping the clock at 1:55. Two Daily Racing Form clockers timed Secretariat's Preakness in 1:53 2/5, a new track record. A hearing was held over the time discrepancy, where a video replay proved Secretariat reached the wire before 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 the Pimlico's clocker, who timed the race in 1:54 2/5. To this day, the Daily Racing Form holds Secretariat as the record-holder of the fastest Preakness in history, 1:53 2/5. This would give the 1973 winner track records in each leg of the Triple Crown.

Margin of Victory

• 11½ lengths - Smarty Jones (2004)
• 10 lengths - Survivor (1873)
• 9-3/4 lengths - Funny Cide (2003)
• 8 lengths - Count Fleet (1943)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 - Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)
• 5 - Pat Day (1985, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996)
• 3 - George Barbee (1873, 1876, 1883)
• 3 - Bill Hartack (1956, 1964, 1969)
• 3 - Lloyd Hughes (1875, 1879, 1880)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 7 - R. Wyndham Walden (1875, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1888)
• 5 - Thomas J. Healey (1901, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1929)
• 5 - D. Wayne Lukas (1980, 1985, 1994, 1995, 1999)
• 5 - Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010)
• 4 - Jim Fitzsimmons (1930, 1935, 1955, 1957)
• 4 - Jimmy Jones (1947, 1948, 1956, 1958)
• 3 - John Whalen (1907, 1911, 1913)

Most wins by an owner:

• 7 - Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968) (also the leading breeder with 7)
• 5 - George L. Lorillard (1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882)
• 4 - Harry P. Whitney (1908, 1921, 1927, 1928)

Fillies in the Preakness[link]

Five fillies have won the Preakness in 136 races:

• 1903 - Flocarline
• 1906 - Whimsical
• 1915 - Rhine Maiden
• 1924 - Nellie Morse
• 2009 - Rachel Alexandra, who was also the only horse, male or female, to ever win from the farthest outside position: 13th post.^[15]

(Three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby in 138 races, and three fillies have won the Belmont Stakes in 143 races. On average, fillies have won between 2% and 3% of the Triple Crown races, with similar numbers for geldings; while about 95% of these high-stakes races have been won by colts.)

Winners of The Preakness Stakes since 1873[link]

A † designates a Triple Crown Winner.
A ‡ designates a filly.
A + designates a purse increase (In 2011 Shackleford qualified for the $550,000 Xpressbet Consolation prize as part of The Preakness 5.5 Million dollar bonus program. He did this by finishing second in the Florida Derby and winning The Preakness Stakes) (In 2009 Rachel Alexandra was supplemented to the race for an extra $100,000 which was added to the purse).

Note: D. Wayne Lukas swept the 1995 Triple Crown with two different horses.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro broke down in the first 100 yards of the Preakness. Bernardini went on to win the prestigious event. Barbaro survived his injuries and was cared for at the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania but was euthanized January 29, 2007 due to complications from laminitis. This year's ninth race is now called the Barbaro Stakes in his honor.^{[citation needed]}

See also[link]

• Maryland Jockey Club
• Preakness Stakes "top three finishers" and starters
• Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
• Triple Crown Productions
• American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events
• List of Preakness Stakes broadcasters

Special Bonus[link]

MI Developments Inc. announced August 27, 2010 a special bonus program involving tracks owned by the company that could result in a $5.5 million bonus for the winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes. MID also announced that purses of the Florida Derby and Santa Anita Derby would both be increased to $1 million. MID said the "historic and unique bonus program" called "Preakness 5.5" is designed to "allow both east and west coast based 3-year-olds to qualify by having the preliminary races at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields."

In addition to the purses earned in the qualifying races and the Preakness on May 21, 2011, the owner of a horse winning the bonus would receive $5 million and the trainer would get $500,000. "The purpose of this grand prize is to provide a spectacular event for the fans and to create a potential life changing experience for the stakeholders of the racing industry," Frank Stronach, chairman of MID, said in a statement.

To qualify for the Preakness 5.5 at Gulfstream Park, a horse must win either the Holy Bull Stakes or the Fountain of Youth Stakes and then go on to win the Florida Derby on April 3, 2011. To qualify for the Preakness 5.5 at Santa Anita Park, a horse must win either the Robert B. Lewis Stakes or San Felipe Stakes and then go on to win the Santa Anita Derby. The winner of the El Camino Real Derby, which is scheduled to be run on Feb. 12, 2011 at Golden Gate Fields, will also qualify for the Preakness 5.5 if it goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby.

MID also announced that XpressBet will sponsor the XpressBet.55, a consolation prize of $550,000 ($500,000 to the owner and $50,000 to the trainer) to be awarded to the winner of the 2011 Preakness if that horse was not eligible for the Preakness $5.5 million bonus but was a runner in one of the initial qualifying races and finished first, second, or third at the Santa Anita Derby or Florida Derby.

Paths to $5,500,000 Preakness Bonus:
1) win Holy Bull Stakes + win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
2) win Fountain of Youth Stakes + win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
3) win Robert B. Lewis Stakes + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
4) win San Felipe Stakes + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
5) win El Camino Real Derby + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes

Paths to $550,000 XpressBet Bonus:
1) run in Holy Bull Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
2) run in Fountain of Youth Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
3) run in Robert B. Lewis Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
4) run in San Felipe Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
5) run in El Camino Real Derby + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes

• Note: In 2011 Shackleford won for the $550,000 Xpressbet Bonus.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Preakness Stakes website
• ESPN.com Attending the Preakness (includes future dates)
• History of the Preakness Stakes in the May 14, 1922 (edition 1) of the Daily Racing Form
• Preakness
• Among the people of Baltimore's Preakness Stakes
• Ten Things You Should Know About the Preakness at Hello Race Fans
• Commentary about the Preakness at Raceday 360 Wire

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