The 2021 Preakness Stakes is one of the premier events in horse racing and the second leg of the Triple Crown. It is the most important race of the year for the three-year-old Thoroughbreds. As such, the post positions for the race are particularly important, as they determine a horse’s chances of success or failure in the race. This article will look at what the post positions for the 2021 Preakness Stakes are and what they mean for the horses and their jockeys.
What is the Preakness Stakes?
The Preakness Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, run each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. The Preakness Stakes is the second most prestigious race in North America, after the Kentucky Derby. The Preakness is one of the most attended events at Pimlico Race Course, with more than 100,000 fans in attendance each year.
What are Post Positions?
Post positions, or starting positions, are the positions that each horse starts the race from. They are allocated by a draw prior to the race, and each horse is assigned a post position by random. The post position that a horse draws has an impact on its chances of success, as it will determine where the horse is positioned when the race starts and how it will negotiate the turns.
Why are Post Positions Important?
Post positions are important for a number of reasons. Firstly, the post position will determine where the horse is positioned when the race starts. This can have a major impact on the outcome of the race, as a horse that starts from the front will have the advantage of being able to set the pace, while a horse that starts from the back will have to work harder to catch up. Secondly, the post position will also determine how the horse will negotiate the turns. If a horse starts near the inside rail, it will have to negotiate the turns more tightly than a horse that starts on the outside, which may give it an advantage.
What are the Post Positions for the 2021 Preakness?
The post positions for the 2021 Preakness Stakes were drawn on May 8, 2021. The post positions are as follows:
- 1: Keepmeinmind
- 2: Midnight Bourbon
- 3: Concert Tour
- 4: Crowded Trade
- 5: Ram
- 6: France Go de Ina
- 7: Risk Taking
- 8: Unbridled Honor
- 9: Rombauer
- 10: Mandaloun
What Does This Mean for the Horses?
The post positions for the 2021 Preakness will have a major impact on the race. Horses that draw the inside posts, such as Keepmeinmind and Midnight Bourbon, will have to negotiate the turns more tightly than horses that draw the outside posts, such as Unbridled Honor and Rombauer. As such, horses that draw the inside posts may have an advantage over horses that draw the outside posts.
Which Horses Have the Best Chance of Winning?
Based on the post positions, there are a few horses that stand out as potential contenders for the 2021 Preakness. Concert Tour and Mandaloun are both well-regarded horses that have drawn favorable post positions, and they are likely to be among the contenders for the race. Risk Taking and Rombauer are also good horses that have drawn favorable post positions, and they could be contenders as well.
What is the Post Position Draw Process?
The process of drawing post positions for the Preakness is done at a random draw. Each horse is assigned a post position by random, and the process is overseen by the Maryland Racing Commission. The post positions are drawn prior to the race, and the draw is open to the public.
How Does the Post Position Impact the Odds?
The post position for a horse will have an impact on its odds for the race. Horses that draw the inside posts, such as Keepmeinmind and Midnight Bourbon, will have shorter odds than horses that draw the outside posts, such as Unbridled Honor and Rombauer. This is because horses that draw the inside posts will have an advantage over horses that draw the outside posts.
Conclusion
The post positions for the 2021 Preakness Stakes have been drawn, and they will have a major impact on the race. Horses that draw the inside posts, such as Keepmeinmind and Midnight Bourbon, will have shorter odds than horses that draw the outside posts, such as Unbridled Honor and Rombauer. The post positions can also determine which horses are the most likely contenders for the race, as horses that draw favorable post positions will have an advantage over horses that draw less favorable post positions. The post positions for the 2021 Preakness will be crucial in determining which horses will be the contenders for the race.