The Preakness Stakes is an annual horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. First held in 1873, the Preakness is the second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown and is usually held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The Preakness is the second-richest race in the United States and is a Grade I race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
History of the Preakness
The Preakness Stakes was first held on May 23, 1873, at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race was originally known as the Dinner Party Stakes, named after the dinner party that took place the night before the race. The name was later changed to the Preakness, a reference to the Native American word for a local creek.
The Preakness has been held at Pimlico since its inception, with the exception of several years in the late 1800s when it was held at Morris Park Racecourse in New York. The Preakness is the second-oldest of the three Triple Crown races, with the Kentucky Derby being the oldest.
Preakness Contenders
The Preakness is a Grade I race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The race is open to fillies and colts, and the field is usually limited to 14 horses. The Preakness is usually held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and is one of the most prestigious races in the world.
This Year’s Preakness Horses
This year, the Preakness will be held on Saturday, May 15th at Pimlico Race Course. The field for the 2021 Preakness will include:
- Essential Quality (Kentucky Derby winner)
- Rombauer (second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby)
- Crowded Trade (fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby)
- Midnight Bourbon (sixth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby)
- Keepmeinmind (seventh-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby)
- Concert Tour (third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby)
- Risk Taking (second-place finisher in the Peter Pan Stakes)
- France Go de Ina (first-place finisher in the Tokyo City Cup)
- Unbridled Honor (second-place finisher in the Blue Grass Stakes)
- Ram (third-place finisher in the Lexington Stakes)
- Mandaloun (fourth-place finisher in the Louisiana Derby)
- Crazy Beautiful (third-place finisher in the Kentucky Oaks)
- Havana Grey (third-place finisher in the UAE 2000 Guineas)
Preakness Post Positions
The post positions for the 2021 Preakness have been drawn and the horses have been assigned their starting gates. The post positions for the 2021 Preakness are as follows:
- Essential Quality – Post Position 1
- Rombauer – Post Position 2
- Crowded Trade – Post Position 3
- Midnight Bourbon – Post Position 4
- Keepmeinmind – Post Position 5
- Concert Tour – Post Position 6
- Risk Taking – Post Position 7
- France Go de Ina – Post Position 8
- Unbridled Honor – Post Position 9
- Ram – Post Position 10
- Mandaloun – Post Position 11
- Crazy Beautiful – Post Position 12
- Havana Grey – Post Position 13
Preakness Stakes Odds
Odds for the 2021 Preakness Stakes will be available shortly before the race begins. The current odds for the 2021 Preakness are as follows:
- Essential Quality – 5/2
- Rombauer – 4/1
- Crowded Trade – 8/1
- Midnight Bourbon – 10/1
- Keepmeinmind – 12/1
- Concert Tour – 15/1
- Risk Taking – 15/1
- France Go de Ina – 20/1
- Unbridled Honor – 20/1
- Ram – 25/1
- Mandaloun – 30/1
- Crazy Beautiful – 40/1
- Havana Grey – 50/1
Preakness Favorites
The favorite for the 2021 Preakness is Essential Quality, the Kentucky Derby winner. Rombauer, the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is the second favorite, followed by Crowded Trade, the fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby.
Jockeys for the Preakness
The jockeys for the 2021 Preakness have been announced and each horse has been assigned a jockey. The jockeys for this year’s Preakness are as follows:
- Essential Quality – Luis Saez
- Rombauer – Tyler Gaffalione
- Crowded Trade – Javier Castellano
- Midnight Bourbon – Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Keepmeinmind – David Cohen
- Concert Tour – Joel Rosario
- Risk Taking – Jose Ortiz
- France Go de Ina – Florent Geroux
- Unbridled Honor – John Velazquez
- Ram – Ricardo Santana Jr.
- Mandaloun – Julien Leparoux
- Crazy Beautiful – Mark Casse
- Havana Grey – Julien Leparoux
Preakness Purse
The purse for the 2021 Preakness is $1.5 million, with the winner taking home $900,000. The remaining $600,000 will be divided among the other finishers.
Conclusion
This year’s Preakness Stakes is shaping up to be an exciting race, with 14 horses set to compete for the $1.5 million purse. The field includes the Kentucky Derby winner, Essential Quality, as well as Rombauer, the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby. The post positions have been drawn and the odds have been set, so all that’s left to do is wait for the race to begin on May 15th.