The Preakness Stakes is a famous race for three year old thoroughbred horses that is held each year on the 3rd Saturday in May. This event is traditionally held at the Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland. The Preakness Stakes is the 2nd race in the renowned Triple Crown, coming in between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Brief History of the Preakness Stakes
The first Preakness Stakes race was held in 1873 and the original event was named after a horse, Preakness that had won the Dinner Party Stakes in 1870.
Features of the Preakness Stakes
The racecourse at the Preakness Stakes is 1.91 km in length and involves a maximum of fourteen horses.
The beautiful and valuable Woodlawn Vase is presented as a trophy each year to the Preakness Stakes winner.
The Preakness Stakes horserace is also known as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” due to the flowers in this name that are placed around the winner’s neck at the end of the race.
The Preakness Stakes involves various traditions such as the Alibi breakfast that today is a congregation of jockeys, owners, trainers and members of the press that discuss the horses and aspects of the race before the event.
Another interesting tradition attached to these races is in the form of the weather vane that is painted in the colors of the winning horse and jockey shortly after the race is over.
Today, perhaps in contrast to the Preakness Stakes’ rich history and culture, one of the quickest and perhaps most attractive ways to place bets on this event, is at an online betting site.