Introduction to Preakness Horses
The Preakness Stakes is an annual American horse race held on the third Saturday in May of each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the second jewel of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is preceded by the Kentucky Derby and followed by the Belmont Stakes. The Preakness Stakes, often referred to as “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans,” is the middle jewel of the Triple Crown and the shortest of the three races at a distance of 1 3/16 miles.
What Age is the Preakness Horse?
The Preakness Stakes is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds, meaning horses that are born in the same calendar year and are eligible to compete in the race. The horses must be at least two years old to be eligible to compete in the Preakness Stakes.
The History of the Preakness
The first Preakness Stakes was held in 1873 at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race was named after the colt Preakness, who had won the Dinner Party Stakes on the same day. The original distance of the race was 1 5/8 miles, which was changed to its current distance of 1 3/16 miles in 1925.
The Preakness Race Format
The Preakness Stakes is a dirt race that is run at a distance of 1 3/16 miles. The race is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds, with a field of 14 horses competing for the purse. The winner of the race is determined by the order of finish, with the first horse to cross the finish line being declared the winner.
The Prize Money of the Preakness
The Preakness Stakes is the second most lucrative race in the Triple Crown series, with a purse of $1.5 million. The total purse is divided among the top four finishers, with the winner receiving the lion’s share of the purse. The first-place finisher receives 60% of the purse, while the second-place finisher receives 20% of the purse. The third-place finisher receives 14% of the purse and the fourth-place finisher receives 6% of the purse.
The Preakness Post Position Draw
The post position draw for the Preakness Stakes is conducted two days before the race. The horses are drawn in order, from the inside post position to the outside post position. The horses are then assigned their post positions, with the inside post position being the most advantageous.
The Preakness Prep Races
The Preakness Stakes is preceded by a series of races known as the Preakness Prep Races. These races are held at various tracks throughout the country and give the horses an opportunity to prepare for the Preakness Stakes. The most important of these races is the Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York.
The Preakness Field
The Preakness Stakes field is made up of 14 horses. The horses that compete in the Preakness Stakes are usually the same horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby. However, there are some exceptions, such as horses that skipped the Kentucky Derby or horses that are entered only in the Preakness Stakes.
The Preakness Contenders
The Preakness Stakes contenders are usually the same horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby. However, there are some exceptions, such as horses that skipped the Kentucky Derby or horses that are entered only in the Preakness Stakes. The most likely contenders for the Preakness Stakes are:
- Tiz the Law – Winner of the 2020 Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby runner-up
- Authentic – Winner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby
- Maximum Security – Winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby
- Art Collector – Winner of the Blue Grass Stakes
- NY Traffic – Winner of the Haskell Invitational
The Preakness Race Day
The Preakness Stakes is run on the third Saturday in May each year. The race day is a festive affair, with the infield of Pimlico Race Course being turned into a carnival atmosphere. The race itself is the highlight of the day, with the winning horse being draped in a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans.
Conclusion
The Preakness Stakes is the second jewel of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The race is run at a distance of 1 3/16 miles and is preceded by a series of Preakness Prep Races. The winner of the Preakness Stakes is determined by the order of finish, with the first horse to cross the finish line being declared the winner. The Preakness Stakes is run on the third Saturday in May each year and is a festive affair, with the winning horse being draped in a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans.