Preakness Stakes

Grade 1 race
Preakness Stakes
Location	Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
Inaugurated	1873
Race type	Thoroughbred
Website	Preakness Stakes
Race information
Distance	1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs)
Track	Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 lb (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lb (54.9 kg)
Purse	US$1.1 million

The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race 1-3/16 mile (1.91 km) thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses, held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies 121 lb (55 kg). The Preakness Stakes has been termed "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" because a blanket of Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta, the state flower of Maryland) is traditionally placed around the winner's neck. The attendance at the Preakness Stakes ranks second in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the Belmont Stakes, the Breeders' Cup and the Kentucky Oaks. The attendance of the Preakness Stakes typically only trails the Kentucky Derby, for more information see American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events.

History

Two years before the Kentucky Derby was run for the first time, Pimlico introduced its new stakes race for three-year-olds, the Preakness, during its first-ever spring race meet in 1873. Former Maryland Governor Oden Bowie named the then mile and one-half (2.41 km) race in honor of the colt Preakness from Milton Holbrook Sanford's Preakness Stables in Preakness, Wayne Township, New Jersey, who won the Dinner Party Stakes on the day Pimlico opened (October 25, 1870). The New Jersey name was said to have come from the Native American name Pra-qua-les ("Quail Woods") for the area.^[1]

The first Preakness, held on May 27, 1873, drew seven starters. John Chamberlain's three-year-old, Survivor, collected the $2,050 winning purse by galloping home easily by 10 lengths. This was the largest margin of victory until 2004, when Smarty Jones won by 11 lengths.^[2]

In 1889, George "Spider" Anderson became the first African-American jockey to win the Preakness. In 1890 Morris Park Racecourse in the Bronx, New York hosted the Preakness Stakes after which there was no race run for three years. For the 15 years from 1894 through 1908, the race was held at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York. In 1909 it returned to Pimlico.^[3]

In March 2009 Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns Pimlico, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy thus throwing open the possibility the Stakes could move again. On April 13, 2009, the Maryland Legislature approved a plan to buy the Stakes and the Pimlico course if Magna Entertainment cannot find a buyer.^[4]

Evolution of the Triple Crown series

The Preakness is the second leg in American thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series and almost always attracts the Kentucky Derby winner, some of the other horses that ran in the Derby, and often a few horses that did not start in the Derby. The Preakness is 1 3/16 miles, or 9 1/2 furlongs, compared to the Kentucky Derby, which is 1 1/4 miles. It is followed by the third leg, the Belmont Stakes, which is 1 1/2 miles.

Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Prior to 1931, the Preakness was run before the Derby eleven times. On May 12, 1917 and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby were run on the same day. ^[5]

Running the race

Just after the horses for the Preakness are called to the post, the audience is invited to sing "Maryland, My Maryland," the official state song of Maryland. Traditionally, the United States Naval Academy Glee Club assembles in the Pimlico infield to lead the song.

Sir Barton, winner in 1919

As soon as the Preakness winner has been declared official, a painter climbs a ladder to the top of a replica of the Old Clubhouse cupola. The colors of the victorious owner's silks are applied on the jockey and horse that are part of the weather vane atop the infield structure. The practice began in 1909 when a horse and rider weather vane sat atop the old Members' Clubhouse, which was constructed when Pimlico opened in 1870. The Victorian building was destroyed by fire in June 1966. A replica of the old building's cupola was built to stand in the Preakness winner's circle in the infield.^[6]

A blanket of yellow flowers daubed with black lacquer to recreate the appearance of a black-eyed Susan^[7] (see below) is placed around the winning horse's neck at this time,^[8] and a replica of the Woodlawn Vase is given to the winning horse's owner. Should that horse have also won the Kentucky Derby, speculation and excitement immediately begin to mount as to whether that horse will go on to win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing at the Belmont Stakes in June.

Winning the race

In 1917, the first Woodlawn Vase was awarded to the Preakness winner, who was not allowed to keep it. Eventually a half-size reproduction of the trophy was given to winners to keep permanently. The original trophy is kept at the Maryland Historical Society and brought to the Preakness race each year for the winner's presentation ceremony.^[9]

In 1940, it was proposed to drape the winning horse in a garland of black-eyed Susans, the state flower of Maryland. This posed a problem, as the race is run nearly two months before the flowers come into bloom in late June or July. At first, yellow daisies were painted to resemble black-eyed Susans; workers switched to chrysanthemums later. Although the Preakness is sometimes referred to at "the race for the black-eyed Susans", no black-eyed Susan is ever used.^[10][11]

In 1918, 26 horses entered the race, and it was run in two divisions, providing for two winners that year. Currently, the race is limited to 14 horses.

In 1948, the Preakness was televised for the first time by CBS.

The Preakness has been run at seven different distances:

• 1-1/2 miles (2.41 km) : 1873-1888, 1890
• 1-1/4 miles (2.01 km) : 1889
• 1-1/16 miles (1.71 km) : 1894-1900, 1908
• 1 mile 70 yards (1.67 km) : 1901-1907
• 1 mile (1.61 km) : 1909, 1910
• 1-1/8 miles (1.81 km) : 1911-1924
• 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) : 1925-present

Records

Speed record:

• Set by Tank's Prospect in 1985 and equaled by Louis Quatorze in 1996 and Curlin in 2007, the time record for the current 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) Preakness is 1:53 2/5 seconds. (Secretariat, the 1973 winner, was also credited with running 1:53 2/5 by the Daily Racing Form. However, the timer malfunctioned during that race, and Pimlico Race Course does not recognize that time, instead assigning Secretariat a time of 1:54 2/5.) The record victory margin is 11½ lengths, by Smarty Jones in 2004.

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 - Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)
• 5 - Pat Day (1985, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996)
• 3 - George Barbee (1973, 1876, 1883)
• 3 - Bill Hartack (1956, 1964, 1969)
• 3 - Lloyd Hughes (1875, 1879, 1880)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 7 - R. Wyndham Walden (1875, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1888)
• 5 - Thomas J. Healey (1901, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1929)
• 5 - D. Wayne Lukas (1980, 1985, 1994, 1995, 1999)
• 4 - Jim Fitzsimmons (1930, 1935, 1955, 1957)
• 4 - Jimmy Jones (1947, 1948, 1956, 1958)
• 4 - Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002)
• 3 - John Whalen (1907, 1911, 1913)

Most wins by an owner:

• 7 - Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968) (also the leading breeder with 7)
• 5 - George L. Lorillard (1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882)
• 4 - Harry P. Whitney (1908, 1921, 1927, 1928)

Fillies in the Preakness

Five fillies have won the Preakness in 134 races:

• 1903 - Flocarline
• 1906 - Whimsical
• 1915 - Rhine Maiden
• 1924 - Nellie Morse
• 2009 - Rachel Alexandra, who was also the only horse, male or female, to ever win from the farthest outside position: 13th post. ^[12]

(Three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby in 134 races, and three fillies have won the Belmont stakes in 139 races. On average, fillies have won between 2% and 3% of the Triple Crown races, with similar numbers for geldings; while about 95% of these high-stakes races have been won by uncastrated male horses, colts or stallions.)

List of winners

A † designates a Triple Crown Winner.
A ‡ designates a filly.

Note: D. Wayne Lukas swept the 1995 Triple Crown with two different horses.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro broke down in the first 100 yards of the Preakness. Bernardini went on to win the prestigious event. Barbaro survived his injuries and was cared for at the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania but was euthanized January 29, 2007 due to complications from laminitis. This year's ninth race is now called the Barbaro Stakes in his honor.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Preakness Stakes "top three finishers" and starters
• Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
• List of Preakness Stakes broadcasters

References

External links

• Preakness Stakes website
• Preakness Stakes
• ESPN.com Attending the Preakness (includes future dates)
• History of the Preakness Stakes in the May 14, 1922 (edition 1) of the Daily Racing Form

v • d • e City of Baltimore Government Mayor (Sheila Dixon) • City Council • City Hall • Delegates • Senators • Courts Public Service Police • Schools (CEO), Transportation (Subway • Light Rail • Buses) City Life Neighborhoods • People • Culture • Skyscrapers • Museums Professional Sports Orioles • Ravens • Blast • Mariners • Preakness