Preakness stakes

The Preakness stakes is the second race to take place in the Triple Crown series. The race takes place in Maryland at the Pimlico Race Course. It is held on the penultimate Saturday in May every year. The race consists of a dirt track that is nine and a half furlongs long.

Traditions

The Preakness stakes is also known as the “black-eyed Susans” because the horse that wins receives these flowers. They are in addition the state flower, which is the main reason they are used. Right before the horses are called to post for the race the audience sings “Maryland, My Maryland.” The USNA glee club traditionally leads the singing of the state song.

Once the winner of the race is officially declared a painter climbs the ladder to the Old Clubhouse cupola replica. The colours of the winner’s silks are applied to the horse and jockey that sit on the vane on top of the members’ clubhouse. This tradition began in 1909. During this time, the blanket of black-eyed Susans is placed around the horse, and the owner is presented with a Woodlawn Vase replica. If it so happens that the horse that wins the Preakness has previously won the Derby, speculation of a potential Crown victory begins.

The Race

The first Preakness stakes was held two years before the start of the Kentucky Derby. The race was named in honour of a colt Preakness that was part of Milton Holbrook Sanford’s Stables located in New Jersey. There were seven starters in the very first stakes held on May 27th, 1873. This race was won by a horse named Survivor, who won by an astonishing ten lengths. This was the biggest victory until 2004 when another horse won by an even better eleven and a half lengths.