Another year has come and a lot of people are thrilled for the upcoming Preakness Stakes 2019. Most people are getting ready for the big day to come, yet some are still undecided about who to bet and questions a lot about who placed first for the last years?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59789377/960238398.jpg.1526771602.jpg)
Looking Back the Race
The Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown races along with the Kentucky Derby & Belmont Stakes, is an American flat thoroughbred horse race held at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland every third Saturday of May.
It is known among horseplayers as “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” and is one of the most valued Grade 1 stakes race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs (1,900m) on dirt. A superb winning horse was called Preakness in 1870, thus the race is named in turn to his honor.
Preakness Stakes was first held on May 27, 1873 which drew seven starters and up until today, top 3-year old colts race annually.
Maryland’s heritage is where racing tradition run deep. The audience is invited to sing Maryland’s official state song, “Maryland, My Maryland” just after the horses for the Preakness are called to the post.
A painter climbs a ladder to the top of a replica of the Old Clubhouse cupola as soon as the winner has been declared official.
Among the horses, Secretariat, the 1973 winner, was commended as the fastest in Preakness history. Survivor, owned by John F. Chamberlain, was acclaimed as the first horse to win the race.
2016
In the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes, the track has been very muddy since it was raining hard and challenged the 11 horses competing in the field. Despite the circumstances, Exaggerator took advantage of the sloppy track and won 3 ½ lengths against runner-up Cherry Wine, while Nyquist ended up third for his first defeat in 9 years.
Despite Triple Crown’s very muddy second leg, Exaggerator found a way to get from behind with Nyquist, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, who leads for much of the race. Exaggerator's jockey & trainer is Kent Desormeaux, who’s been awed about the winning, had won the Preakness Stakes twice before which gave him a huge advantage.
2017
Cloud Computing hailed as the winner of Preakness Stakes 2017 beating out a field of 10 horses. In a race that was supposed to belong to Kentucky Derby champion Always Dreaming, and highly rated Classic Empire, Cloud thundered back and went head-to-head with the other horses as they approached the finish line passing him by just enough to give Cloud’s jockey, Javier Castellano and trainer, Chad Smith the victory.
The horse entered the race with 13-1 odds. Classic Empire looked like he was going to earn the tough win but acclaimed as the second runner up, while Senior investment finished third during the race.
2018
Last May 19, 2018, the 143rd Preakness Stakes took place in Pimlico Race Course. Justify, rode by jockey Mike Smith, an eventual Triple Crown winner, won the race followed by Bravazo who finished second and Tenfold, who finished third behind Justify.
It was a fierce battle in the foggy weather that made the course so exciting. All eyes were on Justify in the run-up to the Preakness who earlier won the Kentucky Derby and launched a Triple crown bid. Even before the Preakness was discussed, Justify broke “Apollo’s Curse” by becoming the first horse to win Derby, not racing as a two-year-old which is last done by Apollo in the year 1882. The winner of the Preakness Stakes 2018 took home an estimated $1.5 million.
This Year!
This year’s Preakness Stakes 2019 is about to happen this May 18, 2019. The race is challenged on the dirt at a distance of 1 3/16 miles. Owners of the legendary Pimlico Race Course, The Stronach Group, announced that tickets to the 144th Preakness Stakes are on sale for the facility and the Preakness Village.
Probably a lot are getting excited to bet their favorite contenders having their own version of versatility. Predicting the winner of this year’s race is a total guessing game. Preakness Stakes 2019 odds may be available soon, it can help throughout deciding and may serve as a guide of whom to bet during the race.
Takeaway
Preakness Stakes has its history before it became a renowned sport of this time. It is not only about the betting and parade of the diverse contenders, but the tradition and heritage of Maryland that is keeping it alive. Each year, different horses made it to the top even the unforeseen ones, and whether it's your first or not to participate in this event, a lot of amazing things can still happen.
With high hopes, Preakness Stakes 2019, running its 144 year old race will be a lot more fun and exciting as with the previous years.
