The Preakness Stakes has been a thrilling event for horse racing fans for over a century. The first Preakness Stakes took place in 1873.
The first winner was a colt named Survivor, who won by 1 1/2 lengths. He was ridden by jockey George Barbee.
The Preakness Stakes is often considered the second leg of the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. This prestigious title has been earned by only a select few.
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All-Time List Winners
The Preakness Stakes has a rich history of incredible winners.
Secretariat, considered one of the greatest horses ever, won the 1973 Preakness in historic fashion.
Afleet Alex, though not considered one of the greatest, had a memorable win in 2005. He finished the Preakness in 1:55, the fastest time in eight years.
Rachel Alexandra, the fifth filly to win the Preakness, outran the Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird, in 2009. She was named Horse of the Year that same year.
Sunday Silence won the 1989 Preakness by a nose, defeating the favorite, Easy Goer.
Additional reading: 2024 Preakness Stakes Winners
History of Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes has a rich history that spans over 150 years. It was first run in 1873 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
The first Preakness Stakes was won by a horse named Survivor, who completed the 1 3/16-mile race in 2:41 1/2.
The Preakness Stakes was originally called the Preakness Stakes for a horse named Preakness, who was a champion horse in the 18th century.
The Preakness Stakes has been run every year since 1873, except for two years during World War I and one year during World War II.
The Preakness Stakes has been won by some of the most iconic horses in American racing history, including Count Fleet, who won the Triple Crown in 1943.
The Preakness Stakes has also been won by horses from a variety of breeding programs, including the famous Calumet Farm.
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Recent Winners
The Preakness Stakes has had its fair share of thrilling winners over the years. Seize the Grey, the 2024 winner, led from start to finish at a muddy Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., edging out Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan by 2 1/4 lengths.
Seize the Grey was owned by MyRacehorse, which sells thoroughbred "micro-shares" to the general public, making it a unique experience for the 2,570 people who own at least a share in the horse. This win was a significant moment for MyRacehorse, as it was their first horse trained by D. Wayne Lukas.
The 20 most recent Preakness Stakes winners include two horses that completed the Triple Crown: Justify in 2018 and American Pharoah in 2015. Here are the winners from 2023 to 2006:
20 Most Recent
The 20 most recent Preakness Stakes winners have been a diverse and talented group of horses. Two of them, Justify in 2018 and American Pharoah in 2015, achieved the impressive feat of completing the Triple Crown.
National Treasure's 2023 victory gave trainer Bob Baffert a record-breaking eighth win. D. Wayne Lukas made it a magnificent seventh success the following year.
The 2020 and 2009 races were both won by fillies, with Swiss Skydiver and Rachel Alexandra being the most recent ones. Prior to that, the last successful female was way back in 1924.
Smarty Jones' 2004 win is notable for producing the widest margin of victory at 11½ lengths.
Grey Wins 149th
Seize the Grey won the 149th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. on Saturday, edging out Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and six other horses to win.
Seize the Grey led from start to finish, running a 1:56.82, and won by 2 1/4 lengths.
The margin of victory was a bit wider than the photo finish at Churchill Downs two weeks prior.
Seize the Grey paid out $21.60 to win the Preakness, $8.40 to place, and $4.40 to show.
The horse had 9-1 odds to win the Preakness.
Seize the Grey's win made for a memorable Triple Crown debut by jockey Jaime Torres.
Torres was grateful to his family, who made a surprise visit to Pimlico on Friday.
Seize the Grey is owned by MyRacehorse, which sells thoroughbred "micro-shares" to the general public.
There are 2,570 people who own at least a share in Seize the Grey, hailing from 42 of the 50 states.
Jockeys & Trainers to Follow
National Treasure's victory in the 2023 Preakness Stakes marked a milestone for jockey John Velazquez, who rode to his first Preakness win.
Bob Baffert, on the other hand, has won the Preakness on a record-breaking eight occasions.
Jockeys who have won the Preakness on multiple occasions include Robby Albarado, Mike Smith, and Javier Castellano, all of whom have two wins.
Early Voting's trainer, Chad Brown, notched his second Preakness win in 2022, showing he's a force to be reckoned with in the Triple Crown event.
Kent Desormeaux and Victor Espinoza have both won the Preakness three times, demonstrating their exceptional skills in the saddle.
By Post Position
In the Preakness Stakes, certain post positions have proven to be more successful than others. The positions 1-6 are the most fruitful, with ten of the last twelve races won by horses starting in this post position.
Post 6 has been the most successful overall, producing 17 winners since 1909. It's a good thing to keep in mind when considering how to bet on the race.
At least one horse has won from gates 1-13, but some posts have produced few winners. Only one horse has won from post 13, which is worth noting.
Draws 10 and 11 have only produced two winners each, so it's probably best to avoid those post positions if possible.
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By Year
The Preakness Stakes has a rich history, and by looking at the winners by year, you can witness its evolution. Here are some notable facts about the winners from 1919 to 1924.
The first Preakness Stakes winner was Sir Barton in 1919.
In 1920, Man o' War took the top spot, and it's worth noting that Glen Riddle Farm was the owner of both Sir Barton and Man o' War.
Pillory won the 1922 Preakness Stakes, and Richard T. Wilson Jr was the proud owner.
Nellie Morse, a filly, won the 1924 Preakness Stakes, marking the last win by a filly for 85 years.
Here are all the Preakness Stakes winners from 1919 to 1924:
Past Winners
The Preakness Stakes has a rich history, with many notable winners over the years. The first notable winner of the Preakness Stakes during this period was Citation in 1948, ridden by Eddie Arcaro.
Eddie Arcaro is a legendary jockey who won the Preakness Stakes six times, a record that still stands today. He won the Preakness in 1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, and 1957.
One of the most iconic winners of the Preakness Stakes was Secretariat, who won in 1973 with a record time of 1:53. This thoroughbred was the ninth winner of the Triple Crown.
Here is a list of some of the notable winners of the Preakness Stakes from 1948 to 1973:
The Preakness Stakes has also seen many notable winners since 1973, including Seattle Slew and Affirmed.
Statistics and Trends
The Preakness Stakes has been run 146 times since its inception in 1873, with the first winner being Survivor, a filly who won the inaugural race.
The most successful jockey in Preakness Stakes history is Eddie Arcaro, who rode three winners, including the iconic Bold Ruler.
Pimlico Race Course, the home of the Preakness Stakes, has been the site of some of the most thrilling finishes in racing history, including the 1983 upset win by Longshot Gate Dancer.
Since 1960, the Preakness Stakes has been run on the third Saturday in May, a tradition that has become a beloved part of American sporting culture.
The Preakness Stakes has been won by horses from 27 different states, with Maryland-bred horses leading the way with 65 victories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Sandman finish in the Preakness?
Sandman finished third in the Preakness Stakes. He had a notable struggle after the race, according to his trainer.
How much did Secretariat win the Preakness by?
Secretariat won the 1973 Preakness Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths. This impressive margin helped him secure a notable victory.
Who came in second and third in the Preakness?
Gosger came in second, while Sandman took third place in the Preakness.
What were the payouts for the Preakness?
The Preakness Stakes offers a $2 million purse, with the winner receiving $1.2 million and the second-place finisher earning $400,000. The payouts decrease for third, fourth, and fifth place.
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