Preakness Stakes

PREAKNESS STAKES Pimlico Racecourse/ Baltimore, Maryland MAIN TRACK: 1-mile dirt track with a 6-furlong and 11/4-mile mile chute TURF COURSE: 7 furlongs Pimlico Racecourse was opened Oct. 25, 1870, in Baltimore by the Maryland Jockey Club, which formed in 1743 and is the nation's oldest sporting organization. The racetrack is now owned by the private company The Stronach Group, which also operates Laurel Park. Pimlico is the second-oldest among the major U.S. racetracks behind Saratoga Race Course (1863). Has permanent seating for 14,852. TOP 12 PREAKNESS DAYS BY ATTENDANCE Maryland In-State Total Handle Year Attendance Winner 2012 121,309 $7,657,513 2007 121,263 $10,914,973 Curlin 2006 118,402 $10,935,010 Bernardini 2013 117,203 $6,519,636 2005 115,318 $11,293,899 Afleet Alex 2004 112,668 $10,309,013 Smarty Jones 2008 112,222 $9,411,606 Big Brown 2011 107,398 $7,732,750 Shackleford 2001 104,454 $10,308,817 Point Given 2002 101,138 $10,403,781 War Emblem 1999 100,311 $8,932,809 Charismatic 2003 100,268 $10,085,846 Funny Cide 'lI Have Another Oxbow Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners in bold yellow How the race was named The name "PREAKNESS" has its origins with the Native American Minisi tribe of northern New Jersey. The tribe called their area Pra-qua-ies, meaning "quail woods." Gen. George Washington described this area where his troops were quartered in 1776-77 as Preckiness. Nearly 100 years later, Thoroughbred farm owner Milton H. Sanford modified the name again when he called his Jersey farm, Preakness He later gave this name to a yearling son of Bay Leaf who won the first stakes - the Dinner Party Stakes- at Pimlico's inaugural day of racing in 1870. 1873-1888, 1890 1 1/2 MILES PREAKNESS STAKES DISTANCE CHANGES The race has been staged at SEVEN different 1889 1 1/4 MILES 1925-present 3/16 MILES distances since 1873 11/8 MILES 1911-1924. A MILE, 70 YÁRDS p0r15 11/16 MILES 1894-1900, 1908 1 MILE 1909-1910 PREAKNESS STAKES QUICK HITTERS FASTEST Jockey (6 Preakness Stakes WINS 1:53 Eddie Arcaro 1941, 1948, 1950 1951, 1955, 1957 Secretariat 1973 23 Trainer WINS Biggest LONGSHOTS R. Wyndham Walden 1875, 1878-1882, 1888 Master Derby 1975 LARGEST Margin of VICTORY 112 Smarty Janes 2004 BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPONSORED BY Blood-Horse THE NETWORK FOR HORSE SPORTS 121,309