Preakness Stakes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Preakness Stakes

Grade I race
"The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown" "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans"
Location	Pimlico Race Course Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Inaugurated	May 27, 1873 (152 years ago)
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Race information
Distance	1+3⁄16 miles (9.5 furlongs)
Record	1:53.0, Secretariat (1973) more
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 pounds (57 kg) Filly: 121 pounds (55 kg)
Purse	US$2 million (2024) 1st: $1.2 million

The Preakness Stakes is a famous American thoroughbred horse race. It happens every year on the third Saturday in May. The race takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Preakness Stakes is a top-level race, known as a Grade I race. Horses run about 1 and 3/16 miles (1.9 kilometers) on a dirt track. Male horses (called colts and geldings) carry 126 pounds. Female horses (called fillies) carry 121 pounds.

This race is the second part of the Triple Crown. It happens two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. It is also three weeks before the Belmont Stakes.

The first Preakness Stakes was held in 1873. It was named after a horse that won another race at Pimlico. The "Preakness Weekend" also includes the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday. This race is just for fillies. The Preakness Stakes is the second most-attended horse race in North America. Only the Kentucky Derby has more people watching.

The 149th Preakness Stakes was held on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

History of the Preakness Stakes

The Preakness race started in 1873. This was two years before the Kentucky Derby began. The Maryland governor, Oden Bowie, named the race. He named it after a horse called Preakness. This horse won a race at Pimlico when it first opened in 1870. The name "Preakness" comes from a Native American word meaning "Quail Woods."

The first Preakness race was on May 27, 1873. Seven horses competed. A three-year-old horse named Survivor won easily. He finished 10 lengths ahead of the second-place horse. This was the biggest win margin until 2004. In 2004, Smarty Jones won by 11 1/2 lengths.

Sir Barton, the winner in 1919.

For some years, the Preakness Stakes was held in other places. In 1890, it was in New York. Then, there was no race for three years. From 1894 to 1908, it was held at Gravesend Race Track in New York. In 1909, the race finally returned to Pimlico.

Sometimes, the Preakness Stakes was run as a "handicap" race. This means that faster or more successful horses had to carry more weight. This happened seven times, mostly between 1910 and 1915. During these years, it was called the Preakness Handicap.

In 2009, the company that owns Pimlico had financial problems. This made people worry the race might move again. But the Maryland government worked to keep the race at Pimlico.

The Preakness Stakes usually has the second-highest attendance of any horse race in North America. Only the Kentucky Derby has more fans.

In 2019, an agreement was made to keep the Preakness at Pimlico forever. The old grandstand will be rebuilt. New temporary seats will be added for race week. In 2020, the Maryland state government approved $375 million for renovations.

The 2020 Preakness Stakes was held later than usual, in October. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. No fans were allowed to attend for health reasons.

Because of construction, the Preakness Stakes might move to Laurel Park in 2026. But it is expected to return to Pimlico in 2027.

The Triple Crown Series

The Preakness is the second race in horse racing's Triple Crown series. The winner of the Kentucky Derby usually races in the Preakness. Other horses from the Derby also join, along with some new ones.

The Preakness is 1 and 3/16 miles (about 1.9 km) long. The Kentucky Derby is a bit longer, at 1 and 1/4 miles (about 2 km). The third race, the Belmont Stakes, is the longest at 1 and 1/2 miles (about 2.4 km).

Since 1932, the Triple Crown races have been in the same order: Kentucky Derby, then Preakness Stakes, then Belmont Stakes. Before 1932, the Preakness was sometimes run before the Derby. In 1917 and 1922, both races even happened on the same day!

Today, the Preakness is always on the third Saturday in May. This is two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes. The only exception was in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preakness Traditions

The weather vane at Pimlico is painted with the winner's colors. This picture shows the colors of 2021 winner Rombauer.

For many years, the audience would sing "Maryland, My Maryland" before the race. This is Maryland's state song. However, this tradition stopped in 2020. Some people felt the song had connections to a difficult period in history.

After the Preakness winner is official, a painter climbs a ladder. They paint the colors of the winning horse's owner onto a weather vane. This weather vane is a replica of the old clubhouse. It has a jockey and horse on top. This tradition started in 1909.

The winning horse also gets a blanket of yellow flowers. These flowers are painted with black centers to look like black-eyed Susans. A copy of the Woodlawn Vase trophy is given to the winning owner. If the horse also won the Kentucky Derby, everyone gets excited! They wonder if it will win the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes.

Winning the Race

The original Woodlawn Vase was first given to the Preakness winner in 1917. Winners were not allowed to keep it. Now, a smaller copy of the trophy is given to winners to keep. The real trophy is kept safe at the Baltimore Museum of Art. It is brought to the race each year under guard for the winner's ceremony.

In 1940, someone suggested using a garland of Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan, for the winner. But black-eyed Susans don't bloom until late June or July. So, at first, yellow daisies were painted to look like them. Now, a type of chrysanthemum called Viking Poms is used. Even though the race is called "the race for the black-eyed Susans," real black-eyed Susans are never used.

In 1918, 26 horses entered the race. It was run in two separate races, so there were two winners that year. Today, the race is limited to 14 horses.

The Preakness was first shown on TV by CBS in 1948.

The race has been run at different distances over the years. Since 1925, it has been run at 1 and 3/16 miles (about 1.91 km).

Prize Money

When the Preakness started in 1873, the prize money was $1,000. It grew over time. In 1919, it was $25,000. By 1997, it reached $1 million. In 2014, the prize money increased to $1.5 million. For 2024, the total prize money is $2 million. The first-place winner gets $1.2 million of that!

InfieldFest

The Preakness Stakes is also known for its fun party atmosphere. Especially in the infield, where general admission tickets are sold.

In 2010, the Maryland Jockey Club started "InfieldFest." This event features live music performances. They also had the "Mug Club," where you could get an unlimited-refill beer mug. For a few years, they even had a mascot named "Kegasus." He was a mix of a keg and a pegasus (though he looked more like a centaur). Kegasus was retired in 2013. InfieldFest helped bring more fans back to the race.

Besides InfieldFest, the race is famous for its fancy hats. It also has an official cocktail called the Black-eyed Susan. It's made with vodka, St-Germain liqueur, and fruit juices.

Records

Speed record:

• 1 and 3/16 miles (1.91km) – 1:53.0 – Secretariat (1973)

Secretariat, the 1973 winner, originally had a time of 1:55. But two other timers recorded him at 1:53 and 3/5. After a review in 2012, the Maryland Racing Commission officially changed his time to 1:53. This means Secretariat holds the speed record for all three Triple Crown races!

Other records at different distances:

• 2:36.75, Montague (1890, 1 and 1/2 miles)
• 2:17.50, Buddhist (1889, 1 and 1/4 miles)
• 1:46.40, Royal Tourist (1908, 1 and 1/16 miles)
• 1:44.20, Bryn Mawr (1904, 1 mile 70 yards)
• 1:39.80, Effendi (1909, 1 mile)
• 1:51, Watervale (1911, 1 and 1/8 miles)

Biggest Win Margin:

• 11½ lengths – Smarty Jones (2004)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 – Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 8 – Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

• 7 – Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968, 2013) (They are also the leading breeder with 7 wins)

Fillies in the Preakness

Six female horses (fillies) have won the Preakness:

• 2020 – Swiss Skydiver
• 2009 – Rachel Alexandra
• 1924 – Nellie Morse
• 1915 – Rhine Maiden
• 1906 – Whimsical
• 1903 – Flocarline

Recent Winners (since 2000)

Triple Crown winners are in bold.

• Notes:

Times were recorded differently over the years. From 1873 to 1899, they were to 1/4 second. From 1900 to 2002, to 1/5 second. Since 2003, they are to 0.01 second.

All winners have been three years old, except Montague in 1890, who was five years old.

A † means the winner was a filly.

Images for kids

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  The Preakness Stakes is known as "The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown."

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  The official logo of the Preakness Stakes.

• American thoroughbred racing top attended events
• Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
• Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing
• List of Preakness Stakes broadcasters
• Maryland Jockey Club
• Preakness Stakes top four finishers
• Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
• Triple Crown Productions
• Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing