The Preakness Stakes is one of the most iconic horse racing events in the United States, and the second leg of the Triple Crown. This event has been around since 1873, and is one of the oldest sporting events in the country. Every year, millions of spectators and horse racing enthusiasts watch the race to see which horse will come out on top. But one question often arises: Are Preakness horses male or female?
An Overview of Preakness Horses
The Preakness Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. The race is held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a 1 3/16 mile race, and the winner is awarded a hefty purse of $1.5 million. The winner of the Preakness Stakes is also known as the “Preakness Champion”.
Are Preakness Horses Male or Female?
The answer to this question is both. The Preakness Stakes is open to both colts (male horses) and fillies (female horses). This means that both genders are eligible to compete in the race, and the winner could be either a male or female horse.
The History of Preakness Horses
In the early days of Preakness Stakes, only male horses were allowed to compete in the race. This changed in 1930, when the first female horse, Nellie Morse, won the race. Since then, several female horses have won the Preakness Stakes, including Rachel Alexandra in 2009, and Swiss Skydiver in 2020.
Famous Preakness Horses
Throughout the history of the Preakness Stakes, there have been many famous horses that have won the race, regardless of their gender. Some of the most notable winners include:
- Secretariat (1973): The most iconic Preakness Stakes winner, Secretariat was a male horse that ran the fastest Preakness time ever, 1:53.00.
- Affirmed (1978): Affirmed was a male horse that won both the Preakness Stakes and the Triple Crown in 1978.
- Rachel Alexandra (2009): Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes since Nellie Morse in 1930.
- Swiss Skydiver (2020): Swiss Skydiver was the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes in fifty years.
Statistics of Preakness Horses
In the past 146 years, there have been a total of 42 female horses that have competed in the Preakness Stakes. Of those 42, only 12 have won the race. This means that the female horses have won the Preakness Stakes 28% of the time.
Can Female Horses Win the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown consists of three races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. No filly has ever won all three races, but a few have won two out of the three. The most recent filly to win two out of the three was American Pharoah in 2015.
Are Female Horses Overlooked in the Preakness?
Despite the successes of female horses in the Preakness Stakes, there is still much more media attention given to male horses. This is due to the fact that male horses are seen as more competitive and more likely to win the race. This is an issue that many female horse owners and trainers are hoping to overcome in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Preakness Stakes is open to both male and female horses. While male horses have historically won the race more often, female horses have had successes in recent years. There has also been much more media attention given to male horses, which is an issue that many female horse owners and trainers are hoping to overcome.
References
- https://www.preakness.com/preakness-history
- https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/237790/preakness-stakes-female-horse-history
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_Stakes
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing