The Preakness Stakes is a prestigious horse race run annually at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series of horse races, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. The Preakness Stakes was first run in 1873 and is the second oldest of the Triple Crown races, behind only the Kentucky Derby. The race is held on the third Saturday in May each year, and draws some of the best three-year-old thoroughbred horses in the United States. The 2021 edition of the Preakness Stakes will take place on May 15, and will feature a full field of horses competing for the Triple Crown.
History of the Preakness
The Preakness Stakes was named after the colt Preakness, who won the first running of the race in 1873. The race was first held at the old Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, and has been held at the current course since 1909. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown series, and has been run every year since 1873, with the exception of 1890 and 1891, when it was not held due to financial difficulties.
The Preakness is run over a distance of 1 3/16 miles, and is the second longest of the Triple Crown races, behind the Belmont Stakes. The race is open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses, and the field is typically made up of the horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby, along with a few horses that did not run in the Derby.
Prize Money and Purses
The Preakness Stakes offers a total purse of $1.5 million, with the winner of the race receiving the lion’s share of the purse. The official purse for the 2021 Preakness Stakes is $1,500,000, with the winner receiving $900,000, the second place finisher receiving $300,000, the third place finisher receiving $150,000, and the fourth place finisher receiving $75,000.
The Preakness also offers a number of bonus incentives, including a $1 million bonus to the winner of the Triple Crown, and a $5 million bonus to any horse that can win the Triple Crown in a single season. In addition, the Preakness offers a $50,000 bonus to the owner of the horse that finishes first in the Preakness, and a $25,000 bonus to the owner of the horse that finishes second.
Qualifying for the Preakness
The Preakness is open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses, and the field is typically made up of horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby, along with a few horses that did not run in the Derby. To be eligible for the Preakness, a horse must have either finished in the top four in the Kentucky Derby, or earned enough points in other prep races leading up to the Preakness.
To be eligible for the Kentucky Derby, a horse must have earned points in designated prep races throughout the season. The top four finishers in each of these races earn points, with the winner of the race earning the most points. The points earned in these prep races are then used to determine the horses that will qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
How Many Horses will Compete in Preakness 2022?
The 2022 Preakness Stakes will be the 149th running of the race, and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20, 2022. The field for the Preakness is typically made up of around 12-14 horses, and the full field of horses will not be determined until much closer to the race date.
Notable Horses that Competed in Preakness 2021
The 2021 Preakness Stakes was won by Rombauer, who was ridden by jockey John Velazquez. The field for the 2021 Preakness was made up of 11 horses, including the Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, who finished in third place.
Notable Horses in 2021 Preakness Stakes
- Rombauer: Winner of the 2021 Preakness Stakes
- Medina Spirit: Winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby and third-place finisher in the Preakness Stakes
- Midnight Bourbon: Second-place finisher in the Preakness
- Concert Tour: Fourth-place finisher in the Preakness
- Keepmeinmind: Fifth-place finisher in the Preakness
- Unbridled Honor: Sixth-place finisher in the Preakness
- Ram: Seventh-place finisher in the Preakness
- France Go de Ina: Eighth-place finisher in the Preakness
- Risk Taking: Ninth-place finisher in the Preakness
- Crowded Trade: Tenth-place finisher in the Preakness
- Mandaloun: Eleventh-place finisher in the Preakness
Favorite Horses in Preakness 2022
It is too early to tell who the favorites will be for the 2022 Preakness Stakes, as the full field of horses will not be determined until closer to the race date. However, some of the horses that could be contenders for the 2022 Preakness include:
- Essential Quality: Winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby
- Life is Good: Second-place finisher in the 2021 Kentucky Derby
- Hot Rod Charlie: Third-place finisher in the 2021 Kentucky Derby
- Rock Your World: Winner of the 2021 Santa Anita Derby
- Highly Motivated: Winner of the 2021 Blue Grass Stakes
- Caddo River: Winner of the 2021 Arkansas Derby
Betting on the Preakness
Betting on the Preakness Stakes is a popular pastime for many horse racing fans, and there are a number of ways to bet on the race. The most popular type of bet is the win bet, which is a bet on a horse to win the race. Other types of bets include the place bet, which is a bet on a horse to finish in the top two, and the show bet, which is a bet on a horse to finish in the top three.
In addition to the traditional win, place, and show bets, there are a number of exotic bets that can be placed on the Preakness Stakes. These include the exacta bet, which is a bet on two horses to finish first and second in the exact order, and the trifecta bet, which is a bet on three horses to finish first, second, and third in the exact order.
Conclusion
The Preakness Stakes is a prestigious horse race that takes place annually on the third Saturday in May at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series of horse races, and draws some of the best three-year-old thoroughbred horses in the United States. The full field for the 2022 Preakness Stakes will not be determined until closer to the race date. However, some of the horses that could be contenders for the 2022 Preakness include Essential Quality, Life is Good, Hot Rod Charlie, Rock Your World, Highly Motivated, and Caddo River. Betting on the Preakness is a popular pastime for many horse racing fans, and there are a number of ways to bet on the race.