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• The Preakness Stakes is an annual thoroughbred horse racing event that is held on the third Saturday in May. The event is held at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

  Ridden by Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra won the 2009 Preakness Stakes on May 16, 2009. She was the first filly to win the race in 85 years. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who won the Derby as a 50-1 underdog, came in second.USA Today: Filly Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness Stakes The 2009 Preakness also featured a concert, the "Preakness Infield Fest," including ZZ Top and Buckcherry.Baltimoresun.com: Changes on the way for Preakness infield (February 5, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Originated: 1873
  2. Winner's purse: $1 million
  3. Held: Annually on third Saturday in May
  4. 2009 date: May 16Official Site 2009 InfieldFEST
  5. Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
  6. Gates open: 8:00 a.m ESTOfficial Site [Official Site: Home of the Preakness FAQs
  7. Distance: 1 3/16 miles
  8. Official drink: The Black-Eyed SusanOfficial Site Official Drink
  9. 2009 marks the 134rd Preakness race
  10. Televised by: NBC
  11. Tickets: Public Infield, $50 in advance, $60 on May 16 2009 InfieldFEST
  12. No alcoholic beverages can be brought onto the infield although 16 ounce beers will be available for $3.50 2009 InfieldFEST

• Alcohol Policy Change

  On February 5, 2009, it was announced that alcoholic beverages would not be allowed in the public infield.Official Site 2009 InfieldFEST The rule stems from the rowdy behavior of some spectators in years past.

• Big Brown 2008

  Every year there are three races that make up horse racing's Triple Crown. The Preakness is the middle of those three vents, sandwiched by the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. It is the shortest of three races, and often can lead to a decline in Belmont Stakes ratings because if a winner is different from the Kentucky Derby winner, it clinches a lack of a Triple Crown winner. Just before the race comes the traditional singing of Maryland My Maryland before the race. In 2008, Big Brown won easily, cruising to a five-and-a-quarter-length victory to win the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes, and tried to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, however did not win the Belmont Stakes. The race record is 1:53.4 set by Louis Quatorze in 1996 and equaled by Curlin in 2007.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Belmont Stakes | Kentucky Derby | Triple Crown | Baltimore | Breeders Cup | Secretariat Movie | Churchill Downs

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