Logo Placement

The Preakness Stakes horse race based out of Baltimore, Maryland, has been a mainstay on the Triple Crown circuit since 1930. Pimlico racetrack was first built in 1870 and horse betting on the Preakness has been an annual occurrence on the third Saturday in May since 1873. Sports betting fans from around the world come to Pimlico in the third week of May to see if the Kentucky Derby winner will have a shot at a Triple Crown title.

Although the present format of the Triple Crown of America has been upheld since 1930, the Preakness was initially run as the first of the three stage championship. In 1917 and 22 respectively, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland and fellow Triple Crown race the Kentucky Derby based in Louisville, were each run on the same day.

The Preakness Stakes grade one horse race was founded by Maryland Governor Oden Bowie in 1868. As an avid horse racing fan, his goal was for the state of Maryland to have a prestigious horse race to symbolize how amazing the state is. In 1870, Bowie funded the building of the Pimlico Race Course. From 1873 onward the Preakness Stakes turned from a proposal to fruition and is now known as the middle jewel of the Triple Crown of America.

Furthermore, the Preakness is known as the make or break of the Triple Crown, as many of the Kentucky Derby winners, have struggled considerably at Pimlico. The reason for this is that Pimlico has a fair amount of steep turns and is a dirt based course, two disadvantages to many horses. What’s more, Pimlico as seen in the 1938 race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral is a track known for early leads. Meaning to say the majority of recent Derby winners in the last 30 or so years, have been plotters who make their move near the end of the race. When the Preakness rolls around annually, horses that are known for taking the early lead, are usually able to maintain that lead throughout the race.