The Preakness Stakes, held each year on the third Saturday of May, (two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before the Belmont), is the shortest race in the Triple Crown, at 1 3/16^th miles in length. The race is run in Baltimore, M.D., at the Pimlico Race Course, built in 1870 by the Maryland Jockey Club. Three year old thoroughbreds compete for a million dollar purse, with fillies carrying 121 pounds and geldings and colts carrying 126 pounds.

 

While not as well-known to the general public as the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness is one of the great American Grade 1 thoroughbred races, and an important part of racing history in this country. Situated in timing between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, it is the second race in the Triple Crown triumvirate. (In fact, historically speaking, it’s the second in the group, predating the start of the Derby by two years.) The Preakness’ 135 year history includes relocations, fire and natural disasters, economic upsets and even a few missed years (1891-1893).

 

The Preakness has a long history, inextricably associated with that of its home state. Before the race begins, the audience joins the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club in singing “Maryland, My Maryland”. Other traditions include the award of a trophy—a replica of the Woodlawn Vase, which was first awarded in 1817, and now remains at the Maryland Historical Society. The original vase, made by Tiffany and valued at over $1 million, is presented to the winner at the race, but is then replaced by a half-size replica and the original returned to its home.

 

In another Preakness tradition, when the official winner is announced, a painter climbs to the top of an infield building cupola to paint the colors of the winner’s silks on the iron weathervane. The painting complete, the winning horse is blanketed with a floral horseshoe of black-eyed Susans, (Maryland’s state flower), and the rider is presented with the Woodlawn Vase trophy.

 

The first painting of the weathervane took place in 1909, when the original arrow-shaped weathervane topping the Member’s Clubhouse (built at Pimlico’s opening in 1870) was stricken by lightening. It was replaced with a new vane in the shape of a horse and rider. Effendi won that year, and the weathervane was painted in the colors of the owner’s silks.  In June 1966, the Clubhouse burned down, but the weathervane itself was saved. The cupola was rebuilt in the winner’s circle and topped with the historic vane, which is repainted every year in the winning colors.

 

The first Preakness, run on May 23, 1873, was a mile and a half long—just slightly longer than today’s race. The race was named in honor of the winner of the aptly if unimaginatively named 1870 Dinner Party Stakes, won by a three year old, Kentucky bred horse by the name of Preakness. (After winning the Dinner Party Stakes, Preakness continued to race—and to win—until his eighth season.) Oden Bowie, the governor of Maryland and the man who helped found Pimlico, suggested a new race at a dinner party, putting up a $15,000 purse from his own money to get things rolling. Twelve thousand racing fans turned out for the first Preakness, and seven horses started. The winner, Survivor, skunked the rest of the competitors by ten lengths—a winning margin that stood until Smarty Jones, (S. Elliott) won by 11.5 lengths in 2004. The first winner’s purse was $2,050.

 

The Preakness continued at Pimlico until 1889, but after that race, the Maryland Jockey Club was hamstrung by financial difficulties. In 1890, the Preakness was run in New York, at Morris Park on Coney Island. In the three following years, the race wasn’t held at all, and in 1894, it was moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., at Gravesend, where it remained until 1908. In 1909, the Preakness returned to Baltimore, where it’s been ever since. The Preakness, a crucial jewel in the Triple Crown since the ‘30s, seems to have its future assured: in the past five years, more than half a million people have attended the race. Televised annually since 1948 and viewed by millions, chances are good that the Preakness won’t lack for funding ever again.

 

 

Purse $1,000,000 Guaranteed

 

Winner: 60%

Second Place: 20%

Third place: 11%

Fourth place: 6%

Fifth place: 3%

 

The Preakness has been run at seven different distances since its beginning:

 

1873-88           1 ½ miles (2.41 km)

1889                1 ¼ miles (2.01 km)

1890                1 ½ miles (2.141 km)

1891-93           Not Held

1894-1900       1 ^1/16 miles (1.71 km)

1901-7             1 mile (1.67 km)

1908                1 ^1/16 miles (1.71 km)

1909, 1910      1 mile (1.67 km)

1911-24           1 ^1/8 miles (1.81 km)

1925-present   1 ^3/16 miles (1.91 km)

 

 

Preakness Winners