2025 Preakness Stakes betting guide and tips

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 fanfare.

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, but fans who can’t attend can get in on the action as well.

The “Run for the Black-eyed Susans” is a must-bet for US horse racing enthusiasts. The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes takes place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

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2025 Preakness Stakes odds and betting favorites

Below are the morning line odds for the 2025 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May, 17:

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Morning Line Odds
1	Goal Oriented	Bob Baffert	Flavien Prat	6-1
2	Journalism	Michael W. McCarthy	Umberto Rispoli	8-5
3	American Promise	D. Wayne Lukas	Nik Juarez	15-1
4	Heart of Honor	Jamie Osborne	Saffie Osborne	12-1
5	Pay Billy	Michael Gorham	Raul Mena	20-1
6	River Thames	Todd Pletcher	Irad Ortiz Jr.	9-2
7	Sandman	Mark E. Casse	John Velazquez	4-1
8	Clever Again	Steve Asmussen	Jose Ortiz	5-1
9	Gosger	Brendan Walsh	Luis Saez	20-1

In 2024, Seize the Grey won the Preakness in a time of 1:56:82. The 9-1 favorite outraced the field on a sloppy track to collect $1.2 million.

A year earlier, Kentucky Derby-winner Mage finished third in the Preakness, with National Treasure winning in a time of 1:55:12. This year’s winner of the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty, will not run in the Preakness, so there will not be a Triple Crown winner in 2025.

Preakness Stakes special traditions

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

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 weathervane 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 of the Preakness is draped with a blanket of Viking poms, a type of chrysanthemum, which only adds to the prestige of the event.

Prior to 1932, the Preakness Stakes ran before the Kentucky Derby. Since then, however, the Preakness takes place two weeks after the Derby, as the second race in the Triple Crown, with the third leg, the Belmont Stakes, running three weeks after the Preakness in Elmont, NY.

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

How to bet on the Preakness Stakes

Betting on the Preakness Stakes can be a lucrative move for savvy horse racing punters. If you’re new to placing wagers on horse racing, though, don’t worry. It’s easy to set up an account at most sites that offer wagering on horse races, including on the Preakness.

Most sites are user-friendly and offer tips to help you place bets on the Preakness and other races. Not only that, you can compare betting sites to find the ones that work best for you. Playfecta likes FanDuel Racing because of its welcome bonus and easy-to-use interface.

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.

The only way to bet on the horses used to be at the track. Now, however, you can wager online using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

There are a plethora of horse racing betting sites and apps available in states that allow wagering on horse races.

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.

First, give the teller the racetrack and the race number, especially if you’re watching the race at your local track or off-track betting site instead of at Pimlico.

Then, give the amount of your bet, the type of bet that you’ll be wagering, and the number of the horse. Therefore, your bet could sound something like: “At Pimlico, Race 4, $2 to win on No. 5.”

Make sure you keep your ticket safe. 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 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 solidified it.

When it comes to online betting, more than 40 states allow legal online horse race betting. As with betting at the track or at an OTB site, there are age restrictions. Some states allow betting at 18 years of age, while others require bettors to be 21 years old. So, check with your local and state laws before you try to place a bet.

Offshore betting sites are available, but we strongly warn against using those sites. They are unregulated and illegal, which puts users at a high risk when betting money.

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 hinge on the horses placing in a specific order and are more risky, 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 finish in either first or second.
• Show bet pays the least of all, but it’s 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 finishing 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 and pays the most.

How does the Preakness work

Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore 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.

Some contend 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 that have won from a position on the rail. Meanwhile, most winners come from post four or higher.

As the Preakness approaches its 150th birthday, major renovations are underway at the Pimlico Race Course to upgrade the track and the facilities. In fact, the track has been closed since September 2024 and will be opened only for the 2025 Preakness Stakes. The 2026 Preakness will be held at Laurel Park in Maryland, with Pimlico expected to be available in 2027 for the 152nd running of the Preakness.

How to watch and stream the race online

The Preakness Stakes draws a lot of attention in the US horse racing world. In 2024, more than 5 million people tuned in to watch the Preakness Stakes on NBC Sports and its affiliates.

Fans can stream the Preakness Stakes at NBCSports.com and on the NBC Sports app.

History of the Preakness Stakes

At the first Preakness Stakes in 1873, Survivor won by a considerable margin of 10 lengths. True to his name, Survivor held the record for the greatest margin of victory for 131 years. The mark was eventually beaten in 2004 by Smarty Jones, who finished by a margin of 11.5 lengths.

One of the most famous horses in American horse racing history, Secretariat, holds the fastest time on record for the Preakness Stakes. Considered the best racehorse in the history of racing, Secretariat demolished the course in 1973 with a time of 1:53:00. The legendary American thoroughbred also holds the track records at the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

The jockey who holds the most Preakness Stakes’ wins is Eddie Arcaro with six wins in the 1940s and 1950s.

Here is the list of all the winning horses of the Preakness Stakes:

Year	Horse	Jockey	Time
2024	Seize the Grey	Jaime A. Torres	1:56:82
2023	National Treasure	J.R. Velazquez	1:55:12
2022	Early Voting	Jose Ortiz	1:54.54
2021	Rombauer	Flavien Prat	1:53.62
2020	Swiss Skydiver	Robby Albarado	1:53.28
2019	War of Will	Tyler Gaffalione	1:54.34
2018	Justify	Mike Smith	1:55.93
2017	Cloud Computing	Javier Castellano	1:55.98
2016	Exaggerator	Kent Desormeaux	1:58.31
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	1:58.46
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	1:54.84
2013	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	1:57.54
2012	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	1:55.94
2011	Shackleford	Jesus Castanon	1:56.47
2010	Lookin At Lucky	Martin Garcia	1:55.47
2009	Rachel Alexandra	Calvin Borel	1:55.08
2008	Big Brown	Kent Desormeaux	1:54.86
2007	Curlin	Robby Albarado	1:53.46
2006	Bernardini	Javier Castellano	1:54.65
2005	Afleet Alex	Jeremy Rose	1:55.04
2004	Smarty Jones	Stewart Elliott	1:55.59
2003	Funny Cide	Jose Santos	1:55.61
2002	War Emblem	Victor Espinoza	1:56.40
2001	Point Given	Gary Stevens	1:55.40
2000	Red Bullet	Jerry Bailey	1:56.00
1999	Charismatic	Chris Antley	1:55.20
1998	Real Quiet	Kent Desormeaux	1:54.60
1997	Silver Charm	Gary Stevens	1:54.80
1996	Louis Quatorze	Pat Day	1:53.40
1995	Timber Country	Pat Day	1:54.40
1994	Tabasco Cat	Pat Day	1:56.40
1993	Prairie Bayou	Mike Smith	1:56.60
1992	Pine Bluff	Chris McCarron	1:55.60
1991	Hansel	Jerry Bailey	1:54.00
1990	Summer Squall	Pat Day	1:53.60
1989	Sunday Silence	Pat Valenzuela	1:53.80
1988	Risen Star	Ed Delahoussaye	1:56.20
1987	Alysheba	Chris McCarron	1:55.80
1986	Snow Chief	Alex Solis	1:54.80
1985	Tank's Prospect	Pat Day	1:53.40
1984	Gate Dancer	Angel Cordero	1:53.60
1983	Deputed Testamony	Donnie Miller Jr.	1:55.40
1982	Aloma's Ruler	Jack Kaenel	1:55.40
1981	Pleasant Colony	Jorge Velasquez	1:54.60
1980	Codex	Angel Cordero	1:54.20
1979	Spectacular Bid	Ronnie Franklin	1:54.20
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	1:54.40
1977	Seattle Slew	Jean Cruguet	1:54.40
1976	Elocutionist	John Lively	1:55.00
1975	Master Derby	Darrel McHargue	1:56.40
1974	Little Current	Miguel A. Rivera	1:54.60
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	1:53.00
1972	Bee Bee Bee	Eldon Nelson	1:55.60
1971	Canonero II	Gustavo Avila	1:54.00
1970	Personality	Eddie Belmonte	1:56.20
1969	Majestic Prince	Bill Hartack	1:55.60
1968	Forward Pass	Ismael Valenzuela	1:56.80
1967	Damascus	Bill Shoemaker	1:55.20
1966	Kauai King	Don Brumfield	1:55.40
1965	Tom Rolfe	Ron Turcotte	1:56.20
1964	Northern Dancer	Bill Hartack	1:56.80
1963	Candy Spots	Bill Shoemaker	1:56.20
1962	Greek Money	John L. Rotz	1:56.20
1961	Carry Back	Johnny Sellers	1:57.60
1960	Bally Ache	Bobby Ussery	1:57.60
1959	Royal Orbit	William Harmatz	1:57.00
1958	Tim Tam	Ismael Valenzuela	1:57.20
1957	Bold Ruler	Eddie Arcaro	1:56.20
1956	Fabius	Bill Hartack	1:58.40
1955	Nashua	Eddie Arcaro	1:54.60
1954	Hasty Road	John H. Adams	1:57.40
1953	Native Dancer	Eric Guerin	1:57.80
1952	Blue Man	Conn McCreary	1:57.40
1951	Bold	Eddie Arcaro	1:56.40
1950	Hill Prince	Eddie Arcaro	1:59.20
1949	Capot	Ted Atkinson	1:56.00
1948	Citation	Eddie Arcaro	2:02.40
1947	Faultless	Douglas Dodson	1:59.00
1946	Assault	Warren Mehrtens	2:01.40
1945	Polynesian	Wayne D. Wright	1:58.80
1944	Pensive	Conn McCreary	1:59.20
1943	Count Fleet	Johnny Longden	1:57.40
1942	Alsab	Basil James	1:57.00
1941	Whirlaway	Eddie Arcaro	1:58.80
1940	Bimelech	Fred A. Smith	1:58.60
1939	Challedon	George Seabo	1:59.80
1938	Dauber	Maurice Peters	1:59.80
1937	War Admiral	Charley Kurtsinger	1:58.40
1936	Bold Venture	George Woolf	1:59.00
1935	Omaha	Willie Saunders	1:58.40
1934	High Quest	Robert Jones	1:58.20
1933	Head Play	Charley Kurtsinger	2:02.00
1932	Burgoo King	Eugene James	1:59.80
1931	Mate	George Ellis	1:59.00
1930	Gallant Fox	Earl Sande	2:00.60
1929	Dr. Freeland	Louis Schaefer	2:01.60
1928	Victorian	Raymond Workman	2:00.20
1927	Bostonian	Whitey Abel	2:01.60
1926	Display	John Maiben	1:59.80
1925	Coventry	Clarence Kummer	1:59.00
1924	Nellie Morse	John Merimee	1:57.20
1923	Vigil	Benny Marinelli	1:53.60
1922	Pillory	Louis Morris	1:51.60
1921	Broomspun	Frank Coltiletti	1:54.20
1920	Man o' War	Clarence Kummer	1:51.60
1919	Sir Barton	Johnny Loftus	1:53.00
1918	War Cloud	Johnny Loftus	1:53.60
1918	Jack Hare, Jr.	Charles Peak	1:53.40
1917	Kalitan	Everett Haynes	1:54.40
1916	Damrosch	Linus McAtee	1:54.80
1915	Rhine Maiden	Douglas Hoffman	1:58.00
1914	Holiday	Andy Schuttinger	1:53.80
1913	Buskin	James Butwell	1:53.40
1912	Colonel Holloway	Clarence Turner	1:56.60
1911	Watervale	Eddie Dugan	1:51.00
1910	Layminster	Roy Estep	1:40.60
1909	Effendi	Willie Doyle	1:39.80
1908	Royal Tourist	Eddie Dugan	1:46.40
1907	Don Enrique	George Mountain	1:45.40
1906	Whimsical	Walter Miller	1:45.00
1905	Cairngorm	Willie Davis	1:45.80
1904	Bryn Mawr	Gene Hildebrand	1:44.20
1903	Flocarline	William Gannon	1:44.80
1902	Old England	Lee Jackson	1:45.80
1901	The Parader	Frank Landry	1:47.20
1900	Hindus	Henry Spencer	1:48.40
1899	Half Time	Richard Clawson	1:47.00
1898	Sly Fox	Willie Simms	1:49.75
1897	Paul Kauvar	T. Thorpe	1:51.25
1896	Margrave	Henry Griffin	1:51.00
1895	Belmar	Fred Taral	1:50.50
1894	Assignee	Fred Taral	1:49.25
1890	Montague	Willie Martin	2:36.75
1889	Buddhist	George Anderson	2:17.50
1888	Refund	Fred Littlefield	2:49.00
1887	Dunboyne	William Donohue	2:39.50
1886	The Bard	S. Fisher	2:45.00
1885	Tecumseh	Jim McLaughlin	2:49.00
1884	Knight of Ellerslie	S. Fisher	2:39.50
1883	Jacobus	George Barbee	2:42.50
1882	Vanguard	Tom Costello	2:44.50
1881	Saunterer	Tom Costello	2:40.50
1880	Grenada	Lloyd Hughes	2:40.50
1879	Harold	Lloyd Hughes	2:40.50
1878	Duke of Magenta	Cyrus Holloway	2:41.75
1877	Cloverbrook	Cyrus Holloway	2:45.50
1876	Shirley	George Barbee	2:44.75
1875	Tom Ochiltree	Lloyd Hughes	2:43.50
1874	Culpepper	William Donohue	2:56.50
1873	Survivor	George Barbee	2:43.00

The Kentucky Derby is known for being the longest-running sports event in the US. However, it is only on a technicality, as the Preakness Stakes actually began two years before the Derby’s debut in 1875. The Preakness took a three-year hiatus from 1891 to 1893 after the Maryland Jockey Club suffered financial difficulties.

Race named after first track 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. It stems from a region in New Jersey by a tribe of Native Americans, Pra-qua-les (or “quail woods”).

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 1870 race. He was subsequently immortalized in the name of the prestigious Preakness Stakes, courtesy of the Maryland Jockey Club.

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 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 Derby, in 1917 and 1922.

The order of the Triple Crown series was officially established in 1932.

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 the Belmont Stakes.