Live racing returns to Pimlico Race Course Thursday for the opening of its 15-day Preakness Meet, highlighted by the 148th running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday, May 20.
The 1 3/16-mile Preakness for 3-year-olds is the centerpiece of a blockbuster program featuring 10 stakes, six graded, worth $2.6 million in purses that includes the 122nd edition of the $200,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Pimlico’s oldest stakes race and the eighth-oldest in the country, debuting in 1870.
Other graded-stakes on the Preakness undercard are the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds sprinting six furlongs, $100,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the grass, $100,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Arabian Derby (G1) for Arabian 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
Preakness Day post time will be 10:30 a.m.
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The 99th running of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles is the focal point of a Preakness Eve program Friday, May 19 that offers six stakes, three graded, worth $1 million in purses. Among the supporting stakes are the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs.
Post time on Black-Eyed Susan Day will be 11:30 a.m.
For the seventh straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.
Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the Skipat, Miss Preakness, Allaire du Pont, Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special, Hilltop, Jim McKay Turf Sprint, Maryland Sprint, Chick Lang, Preakness, Gallorette, James W. Murphy, Dinner Party, The Very One and Sir Barton.
Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has taken the top bonus four times (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) since its inception. Other top winners have been Brad Cox (2019) and Mike Maker (2020).
There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,000 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must start a minimum of three horses to be eligible.
Racing will be conducted at Pimlico Thursdays through Sundays with no live racing Sunday, May 21 or Thursday, June 1 and a special Memorial Day holiday program Monday, May 29. Closing day is scheduled for Sunday, June 4.¬
Post time, with the exception of Preakness weekend, will be 12:25 p.m.
