Preakness Stakes Betting Guide

The Preakness Stakes forms part of America’s famous Triple Crown series and is second only to the Kentucky Derby in terms of attendance and fame.

Needless to say, the Preakness calls to fans of horse racing everywhere and brings in crowds in the hundreds of thousands. All visitors bask in the spirited atmosphere that fans can only experience at the racetrack. On top of that, racing fans can now bet on the Preakness Stakes online across America.

The “Run for the Black-eyed Susans,” as the Preakness Stakes is nicknamed, is a must-see (and must-bet) for US horse racing enthusiasts.

Get a risk free first bet at TVG to bet on the Preakness Stakes

Preakness Stakes runners and odds

See below for the runners and riders at the Preakness Stakes as they are released:

Preakness Stakes special traditions

Many traditions surround the Preakness Stakes. One of them includes singing Maryland’s official state song “Maryland, My Maryland,” since Baltimore hosts the race.

After the winner of the race is announced, the “painting of the colors” takes place. During this tradition, a painter adds the color of the winning team’s silk to the jock-and-horse weather vane on the peak of the Old Clubhouse.

Black-eyed Susans are Maryland’s state flower, leading to its “Run for the Black-eyed Susans” nickname. This is also a nod to the Kentucky Derby’s nickname of the “Run for the Roses.” The winning horse is draped with a blanket of Viking poms, a type of chrysanthemum, which only adds to the prestige of the event.

Originally, the Preakness Stakes would run before the Kentucky Derby. However, the Preakness has since found its place in the Triple Crown two weeks after the Derby and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes.

From 1932, it has traditionally been run on the third Saturday of May. As such, it is the next big test for the winner of the Kentucky Derby before the final race in the Belmont.

Should the same horse win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes, the winner can claim the Triple Crown title.

Where to bet on the Preakness Stakes online

Betting on the Preakness Stakes can be a lucrative move for savvy horse racing punters.

Here, we list some of the best-ranking horse betting sites in the US. All feature guides and easy-to-use interfaces to give you the best chance of betting on a big winner race day.

The sites that we present to you don’t only cover the Preakness Stakes. They include all of the Triple Crown series, as well as other horse races from all around the world. The coverage is a great way to make sure that you never miss betting on that winning race, from the Melbourne Cup in Australia to the Triple Crown and everything in between.

If you’re new to placing wagers on horse racing, don’t worry. These sites are user-friendly and offer tips and tricks to help you place bets for the Preakness Stakes or other races. Not only that, you can compare the betting sites below with other top-rated ones. That way, you know you are always getting the best betting experience available.

Note, however, there are a few states where online betting is illegal. Therefore, make sure you brush up on your local laws before you gamble.

How to bet on the Preakness Stakes

Where do you even begin with the Preakness Stakes? It might play second fiddle to the Kentucky Derby, but don’t doubt the sheer popularity of this race.

Punters come from far and wide to lay down a wager on this race. Consequently, you won’t be alone in looking for ways to bet.

Online Preakness betting

The rich history of US horse racing and the ancient roots of the sport have made it a beloved pastime. These days, horse racing is a cultural event and entertaining, too. Tracks exist in almost every state. Naturally, where there is a spirit of competition and horses running, you’ll find a way to bet on the outcome.

Up until recently, the only way to bet was at the track. Now, however, you can place your bet online using an internet connection. All you need is a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Moreover, there are great horse racing betting sites available to place your wager on the Preakness Stakes. Hopefully, these will help you reel in a big win in the process.

Betting at the Teller

The most traditional method of betting on a horse race is at the racetrack itself. When you step up to the counter at Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness Stakes, you are following a tradition set way back in 1873.

If you’re new to the racetrack, this can be intimidating. How can you place your bet and sound like you know what you’re doing? How can you sound confident in your wager? Betting at horse races can be complicated, so here’s what you need to know.

When you step up to the teller, make sure you place your bet in the proper order for maximum efficiency. This concise method ensures that you streamline the process and don’t hold up the line behind you.

The first information the teller needs are the racetrack and the race number, especially if you’re watching the race at your local track instead of at Pimlico.

Then, give the amount of your bet, the type of bet that you’ll be wagering and the program number for the horse.

Therefore, your bet could sound something like, “Exaggerator, Race Four, $20 to win on No. 3.”

Make sure you keep your ticket safe, though. You will need it to claim your prize if you’ve placed a winning bet.

Off-Track betting

Do you want to bet on a horse race without going online, but can’t make it to the track? Off-track betting (OTB) facilities are your best option.

At an OTB, you can place bets on horses to win, place or show in a secure location. Newcomers to horse racing betting would be shrewd to consider starting with low bets, though. That way, you can subsequently increase the amount spent as your comfort grows with experience race after race.

The Preakness Stakes is a high-energy, exciting race to bet on and has the power to turn dimes into big dollars. Nevertheless, off-track betting is not just an option for this race. It is also available for regular days at the racetrack.

It’s open season when the Preakness Stakes field is announced, so it’s great that you’ve got many ways to jump into the betting action. Online, teller or off track, the choice is yours.

Is betting on the Preakness Stakes legal?

Bettors in the US may be familiar with most of the online gambling laws in the country and how they vary from state to state. However, a lot of people are not aware that betting on horse racing is 100% legal.

At the racetrack, anyone of legal age can place wagers on horse races due to the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978.

Later, the UIGEA bill of 2006, or the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, would come about, but make special notes of the legality of horse betting in the US.

When it comes to online betting, 39 states allow legal online horse race betting. In the meantime, nine states prohibit it in the US, although bettors do have options. However, in Connecticut and Washington state, it is entirely illegal to bet within the states.

Also, there are age restrictions when it comes to betting on horse races in the US, both online and at the track. Some states, for instance, require that bettors be at least 18 years of age, while others need them to be at least 21 years. So, check with your local laws before you head to the track and place that bet.

Offshore betting sites are available to those in the nine states where there are regulations against online horse betting. However, the licensing and regulation of offshore racebooks are outside of US jurisdictions.

Types of bets

The types of bets can be overwhelming for those new to horse race wagering. There are two types: straight and exotic.

• Straight bets are your standard win, place or show wagers. Meanwhile, exotic bets hinge on the horses placing in a specific order.
• Exotic bets are more of a risk, and so they offer a higher reward.
• Win bet is a bet on the horse you think will win outright.
• Place bet is a wager on the horse you think will place in either first or second.
• Show bet pays the least of all, is the least risky. It is a wager on the horse you think will finish first, second or third in the race.
• Exacta bet predicts two horses in the correct order for first and second.
• Trifecta bet predicts three horses in the correct order for first through third place.
• Superfecta bet predicts four horses in the correct order for first through fourth place.
• Super high five bet predicts five horses in the right order for first through fifth place; it pays the most.

Preakness Stakes winners

At the first Preakness Stakes in 1873, Survivor won by a considerable margin of 10 lengths. True to his name, Survivor then continued to hold the record for the greatest margin of victory for a total of 131 years.

It was eventually beaten in 2004 by Smarty Jones, who finished with a margin of 11.5 lengths.

For comparison, 2020’s winner, Swiss Skydiver, claimed the victory in a photo finish.

One of the most famous horses in American horse racing history, Secretariat, holds the fastest time on record for the Preakness Stakes. As possibly the best racehorse in the history of racing as a whole, Secretariat demolished the course in 1:53 in 1973.

The record was only awarded in 2012. Then it was discovered that a timer malfunction had occurred, which required a recalibration and recalculation. The jockey who holds the most Preakness Stakes’ wins is Eddie Arcaro with six wins in the 1940s and 1950s.

For more information on the Preakness Stakes winners, check out the table below:

How does the Preakness work

Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD, is the second-oldest racetrack in the US. As such, it is one of the most essential places in US horse racing history. It’s earned the name “Old Hilltop” over its many years among trainers and race enthusiasts.

Pimlico Race Course hosts the Preakness Stakes at 9.5 furlongs or 1 3/16 miles. It is a 1-mile dirt oval, which can be marvelous on the typical Baltimore sunny day in May. However, as history has proven, rain on race day can slow the field significantly and result in a much sloppier race.

There is also talk that Pimlico cannot host a fair race anymore. It has been statistically proven that the middle lanes offer an advantage to horses that run in the Preakness Stakes. In the past 52 years, there are only two horses total that have won from a position on the rail. Meanwhile, most winners come from post four or farther.

There’s a well-founded fear that the Pimlico racetrack has “run its course” as it fast approaches its 150th birthday.

The location of Pimlico, while traditional, is not suitable for modern crowds. Its facilities are outdated and the track is worn. In 2019, the Stronach Group reached an agreement with the city of Baltimore that would keep the Preakness permanently at Pimlico, which would include renovations and replacing the aging grandstand.

How to watch and stream the race online

The Preakness Stakes draws a lot of attention in the US horse racing world. In 2019, more than 10 million people tuned in to watch the Preakness Stakes on NBC Sports via NBCSN.

It is possible to stream the Preakness Stakes in the future using NBC Sports Live Extra. However, you are required to have a TV provider and a password. Currently, there is no way to stream the race for free, and the only channel that broadcasts it is NBC.

Outside of the US, including Canada and the UK, you’ll need to head to a local streaming service, such as RacingTV, to watch the race unfold online.

History of the Preakness Stakes

The Kentucky Derby is famous for being the longest-running sports event in the US. Nevertheless, it is only on a technicality as the Preakness Stakes began two years before the Kentucky Derby’s debut in 1875.

In fact, the first Preakness Stakes was held at Pimlico Race Course in 1873. However, Preakness took a three-year hiatus beginning in 1891, so the Kentucky Derby holds the record by a single year.

Race named after the first winner

The Preakness Stakes is named after Pimlico Race Course’s first winner, a colt named Preakness, which won the 1870 Dinner Party Stakes.

The name itself, though, actually dates back to the 1700s. The name stems from a region in New Jersey by a tribe of Native Americans, Pra-qua-les (or “quail woods”). It has slowly evolved over a century or so to become the Preakness as we know it today.

Milton Sandford, a thoroughbred owner, gave the name to his farms, one of which was located in that same area of New Jersey. Later, the name would be given to a colt of his, which would then go on to win that fateful 1870 race. He was subsequently immortalized in the name of the prestigious Preakness Stakes, courtesy of the Maryland Jockey Club.

The introduction of the Triple Crown

Initially, the Preakness Stakes was run at a distance of 1.5 miles.

In 1925, the current distance of 1 3/16 miles was set after a period of experimentation by the organizers. Also, the date of the Preakness fluctuated for a few years, bouncing from before the Kentucky Derby to — at least on two memorable occasions — actually occurring on the same day as the Kentucky Derby.

The order of the Triple Crown series was officially established in 1932: first is the Kentucky Derby, the second is the Preakness Stakes and the third is the Belmont Stakes. Before 1932, however, the Preakness Stakes was run before the Kentucky Derby 11 times. In 1917 and again in 1922, both races were run on the same day.

Now, the Preakness Stakes is always run on the third Saturday in May, which is two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before Belmont Stakes.

It occurs no time before May 15 and absolutely before May 21 at the latest. Safe to say, that it’s great to see the Preakness Stakes have its position locked down on the horse racing calendar.

Ties to the Pimlico Race Track

The Pimlico Race Course was the first home of the Preakness Stakes. Still, the race has bounced to a few locations outside of Baltimore. The 1890 Preakness took place at New York City’s Morris Park Racecourse in the Bronx. It then spent some time at Coney Island at the Gravesend Race Track starting in 1894, before finally returning to Pimlico.

The Preakness Stakes started rather modest and inconsistent in terms of distance and location. Nonetheless, it has long held the position of the second most popular horse race in the US and North America. The jewel in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, holds the first place in attendance, while Preakness comes in second.

But let’s be honest, the Preakness Stakes isn’t far off the Kentucky Derby when it comes to all-out horse racing action.