Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes is an annual thoroughbred horse racing event that is held on the third Saturday in May. It's the second jewel in the Triple Crown and the most important. The only horse that can win the Triple Crown is the winner of the Kentucky Derby. That horse's performance at the Preakness determines if there is a possibility of a Triple Crown winner or not.

The event is held at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Pimlico is the second oldest track in the United States. Saratoga Race Track in Saratoga, NY is the oldest. Pimlico opened in 1870. In colonial times, English settlers lived in an area that they called "Pimlico" after a bar near London called "Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern.http://www.preakness.com/pimlicoHistory

The Preakness Infield party, sometimes referred to as the "Freakness," has had the reputation of being one of the most outrageous parties of the year. Infield guests were able to bring anything into the infield on race day. This included alcohol and beer. After complaints about the rowdiness of the crowd, as well as the high number of alcohol related brawls, the decision was made to ban any type of liquid from being brought into the infield. This included water. The new rule went into effect in 2009. The attendance dropped by about 1/3 with many people opting to have their own parties away from the track.

There are a number of traditions linked to the Preakness. The winner of the race is draped with a blanket of Black-eyed Susans, which share its name with the official drink of the Preakness, the Black-eyed Susan. As soon as the race is declared official, the weather vane is repainted in the colors of the winning jockey. The official song is, "Maryland, My Maryland." Maryland crabcakes with fresh strawberry pie as the dessert is the primary menu option for the Preakness.

The Preakness is the shortest of the three races, and the record of 1:53.4 was set by Louis Quatorze in 1996 and equaled by Curlin in 2007.

The last Triple Crown winner was "Affirmed" in 1978.

The winner of the 2010 Kentucky Derby was "Super Saver ridden by Calvin Borel. Borel was the winner of the 2009 Derby and the 2009 Preakness, but on different horses. Super Saver finished the Preakness in 8th place, after going off as the 9-5 favorite, and eliminating a possibility of a Triple Crown winner in 2010.

"Lookin At Lucky" was the winner of the 2010 Preakness Stakes. He went off as the 2-1 favorite behind "Super Saver."

The Complete Order of Finish:

• Lookin At Lucky
• First Dude
• Jackson Bend
• Yawanna Twist
• Dublin
• Paddy O’Prado
• Caracortado
• Super Saver
• Schoolyard Dreams
• Aikenite
• Pleasant Prince
• Northern Giant

Payouts

• 1. 7 Lookin At Lucky $6.80 $4.60 $3.80
  2. 11 First Dude $16.60, $9.20
  3. 6 Jackson Bend $6.60

• Exacta: (7-11) $188.60
• Trifecta: (7-11-6) $2,7771.00
• Superfecta: (7-11-6-5) $17,126.00

"Lucky" finished 3/4 length in front of "First Dude" in 1:55.47. Lookin At Lucky is owned by Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman. Jockey, Martin Garcia recorded his first win in a Triple Crown Race, and it was the 5th time that one of the Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert's horses received the blanket of Black Eyed Susans.

Lookin at Lucky was the favorite in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, but finished out of the money in 6th place.http://www.preakness.com/NewsDetails?newsItemId=1891

Rachel Alexandra, ridden by Calvin Borel, was the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924, beating out Kentucky Derby winner, "Mine That Bird." Even though there wasn't a horse that could win the Triple Crown, Calvin Borel went on to the Belmont to try to be the first jockey to win the Crown on two different horses. Unfortunately, he came in 3rd.