The Preakness Stakes is a major American horse race held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. This race is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is typically held on the third Saturday of May each year. It is contested by three-year-old thoroughbreds at a distance of 1 3/16 miles and has been run since 1873.
History of the Preakness
The Preakness was named after the horse, Preakness, which won the first running of the race in 1873. The first Preakness was won by Survivor, who was ridden by jockey George Barbee. The race has been held at its current location of Pimlico since 1909. Throughout the years, the Preakness has attracted some of the greatest horses in history including Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and American Pharoah.
The Purse for the Preakness
The Preakness Stakes has a purse of $1.5 million, making it the richest of the Triple Crown races. The purse is divided among the top four finishers, with the winner receiving 60% of the purse, the second-place finisher receiving 20%, the third-place finisher receiving 10%, and the fourth-place finisher receiving 5%.
Payouts for the Winner of the Preakness
The winner of the Preakness Stakes receives a payout of $900,000. This is the largest purse of any of the Triple Crown races and is typically divided among the owner, trainer and jockey of the winning horse.
Payouts for the Second Place Finisher of the Preakness
The second place finisher of the Preakness Stakes receives a payout of $300,000. This payout is typically divided among the owner, trainer and jockey of the second place horse.
Payouts for the Third Place Finisher of the Preakness
The third place finisher of the Preakness Stakes receives a payout of $150,000. This payout is typically divided among the owner, trainer and jockey of the third place horse.
Payouts for the Fourth Place Finisher of the Preakness
The fourth place finisher of the Preakness Stakes receives a payout of $75,000. This payout is typically divided among the owner, trainer and jockey of the fourth place horse.
Payouts for the Other Finishers of the Preakness
The other finishers of the Preakness Stakes receive a portion of the purse in decreasing amounts based on their position. The fifth place finisher receives $37,500, the sixth place finisher receives $30,000, the seventh place finisher receives $25,000, the eighth place finisher receives $20,000, the ninth place finisher receives $15,000, and the tenth place finisher receives $10,000.
Additional Bonuses for the Preakness
In addition to the purse, there are several additional bonuses for the Preakness Stakes. The winner of the Preakness also receives a $200,000 bonus from the owners of Pimlico Race Course. The winner of the Preakness also receives a blanket of black-eyed Susans, which is the official flower of the Preakness Stakes.
Prize Money for the Preakness
The total prize money for the Preakness Stakes is $1,700,000. This is the highest amount of prize money for any of the Triple Crown races. The prize money is divided between the top four finishers, with the winner receiving the largest portion of the purse.
Award Money for the Preakness
In addition to the purse, there are also awards given out for the Preakness Stakes. These awards are given to the owners, trainers and jockeys of the horses that finish in the top four positions. The awards consist of a Preakness Stakes trophy, a gold trophy for the winner, silver trophies for the second and third place finishers, and bronze trophies for the fourth place finisher.
The Triple Crown Bonus for the Preakness
If a horse wins the Preakness Stakes, they will also be eligible for the Triple Crown bonus. This bonus is awarded to the owner, trainer and jockey of any horse that wins the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The Triple Crown bonus is $5 million and is split among the three parties.
The Impact of the Preakness
The Preakness Stakes is one of the most prestigious events in horse racing and is an important part of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The race has a long and storied history and is the second leg of the Triple Crown. The purse for the Preakness Stakes is the largest of any of the Triple Crown races and the winner receives a hefty payout. In addition, the winner of the Preakness also receives additional bonuses and awards. The Triple Crown bonus is also an important factor in the Preakness, as it is awarded to the owner, trainer and jockey of any horse that wins the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
Ultimately, the Preakness Stakes is an important event in the world of horse racing and offers a large purse and many awards and bonuses to its winner.