Preakness Stakes Guide
Welcome to this Preakness Stakes website the aim of which is to give the reader a rounded view of the race, its history, its records and its importance in the horse racing world. It also gives a comprehensive guide to the betting on the race, the odds, the form of the runners and hopefully it will offer good guidance as to who the likely winner of the race will be. See Preakness Stakes Tips. This is the 134th running of the race.
Introduction
The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade One race (Group One is the European equivalent), for three year old thoroughbred horses. It is held on the third Saturday in May each year at the Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland and is run over 9.5 furlongs on a dirt track. It is limited to fourteen runners each year and it is officially the second leg of the famous American Triple Crown.
2009 Result
The top filly won the day at the 2009 Preakness Stakes. Rachel Alexandra won after leading from the start to fend off a determined challenge from, Kentucky Derby winner, Mind That Bird. She became the first filly for 85 years to win the carnations.
- 1st - Rachel Alexandra
- 2nd - Mine That Bird
Preakness Stakes – Background
The very first Preakness Stakes was run way back in 1873 and was won by a horse aptly named Survivor, little did connections of that hors that the race would still be running 136 years later. The Preakness Stakes history is a fascinating one and it will let readers know, it is such an important one in US racing terms.
The race is also known in America as “The Run for the Black Eyed Susan’s as it is now customary to place a blanket of these flowers around the neck of the winner. Black Eyed Susans are the state flower of Maryland.
The race over the years has set many Preakness Stakes records which are worth looking over as to is the list of past winners, where the reader will realise the high quality of the race and how special a horse must have to be to win.
Preakness Stakes 2009
Thirteen runners go to post for this years race, they are led in the antepost market by Kentucky Oaks winner, Rachel Alexandra, who will be ridden by Calvin Borel. Mine That Bird is the only horse in the race that can still win the Triple Crown after he won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago. If he succeeds he will be a very unlikely winner as he was a 50/1 shot when he went to post at Churchill Downs. In winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Mine That Bird, became one of the shock winners of the race.
A full list of Preakness Stakes runners with with jockey, trainers and race draw can be seen by clicking the link.
Please read our comprehensive Preakness Stakes Form Guide before making any bet and check out our Preakness Stakes Tips which come free of charge.
Preakness Stakes Betting
Since the advent of globalisation, International racing has flourished beyond belief. It is now common for European trainers to send horses over to America to contest the big races which are now televised in the UK and Ireland by either Attheraces or Racing UK. This has led to a huge increase in betting interest with all UK Bookmakers offering markets on this race and all other top races in the USA. Please see the latest Preakness Stakes odds.
Bookmakers too have been quick to promote their International racing Free bet facilities are there are a variety of Preakness Stakes Free bets here.
