Horse racing is one of the world’s most vastly popular and widely celebrated sporting events with many of the historical racecourses offering their own fair share of high-octane action for all fans and punters to enjoy on a regular occurrence, with one venue located in Baltimore, Maryland hosting a true fan-favorite race that is well worth the price at admission to attend in person.

Given that horse racing has remained a staple within the sporting industry due to the wide number of annual events that draw in spectators from all across the globe, punters are often left spoilt as to which events are the best ones to attend in person and experience something they’ll never forget.

Many racetracks in the U.S. have marquee stakes races with rich histories and purses to match. These races, the biggest of which attract thousands of spectators and millions more watching on TV or on their devices, serve as goals for many owners to pursue as they campaign their horses throughout the year. 

Out of all major U.S.-based horse racing venues that are located across the nation, Pimlico Race Course is arguably the most and respected due to its unparalleled history, with the Preakness Stakes being one of its most distinguished events.

To better understand why Preakness Stakes is so celebrated among horse racing fans within the U.S. and across the world, it is best to delve deeper into the history surrounding its origin and how it has garnered such a well-deserved perception in the decades following its establishment.

History and Origins:

The Preakness Stakes was first held in 1873, two years before the first running of the Kentucky Derby. The race was named after a colt from Milton Holbrook Sanford’s Preakness Stud, located in the small community of Preakness, Wayne Township, N.J. That colt would claim victory in the Dinner Party Stakes on the very first day of racing at Pimlico in 1870.

The very first Preakness Stakes was held on May 23, 1873, with seven different starters competing on the now fabled track. John Chamberlin’s 3-year-old Thoroughbred Survivor claimed the winning prize money of $2,050 after a comfortable 10-length win, which was the largest winning margin in the event’s history up until it was broken by Smarty Jones in 2004 with an astounding 11 ½-length display.

Throughout the years, the race has witnessed a fair share of changes to its overall length, but it is now held at 1 3/16 miles. The Preakness is restricted to 3-year-olds and currently has a total purse of $1.65 million.

Notable Past Winners:

The Preakness winner receives the Woodlawn Vase which of course is handed out to the owner along with the winner’s share of the purse.

Following the event’s establishment back in the late 19^th century, there have been a number of significant records obtained and broken by several horses throughout the track’s history.

Secretariat’s recorded time of 1:53 for 1 3/16 miles in 1973 is still the fastest in the event’s history, followed by the 1:53.28 showing from Swiss Skydiver in 2020.

The most successful jockey in the event’s history is the legendary Eddie Arcaro with six wins. Arcaro, an Ohio native, is also tied for the most wins by a jockey in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes – five wins in the Derby with Bill Hartack, and six wins in the Belmont with Jim McLaughlin.

The record for the most wins by a trainer was recently broken in 2023. Bob Baffert already had seven previous wins in the event, which meant his horse was one of the favorites based on Preakness odds, and it didn’t disappoint. National Treasure won on May 20, and Baffert claimed his eighth victory at the event to surpass Robert Wyndham Walden who famously won five consecutive Preakness events between 1878 and 1882 and seven overall.

National Treasure completed a respectable time of 1:55.12 in with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez securing his first Preakness victory. The colt came out on top after a tremendous duel with Blazing Sevens at the final stretch of the historic race, which continues to remain a staple for all audiences to enjoy on a yearly basis.