2009 Preakness Stakes
- Date: Saturday May 16th, 2009
- Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD
- Post Time: 6:15PM (EST)
- TV Network: NBC, 5:00PM (EST)
Make your pick count. Bet on the Triple Crown races now!
The "Race for the Black-Eyed Susans" is typically run on the third Saturday in May, just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. This year, the second leg of the Triple Crown is in its 134th running and will take place on May 16, 2009 in Balitmore, Md. The Preakness Stakes boasts a purse of $1M, and at only 1 3/16 miles, it is the Triple Crown's shortest race. Expect to see many of the same faces from the Kentucky Derby take on the Preakness Stakes as visions of that coveted Triple Crown title begin to dance in competitors' minds and fatigue is not yet a factor.
Preakness Stakes: Did you know?
The Preakness Stakes was run for 15 years at the Gravesend track in Brooklyn, New York.
So moved by the events of the day, an overly enthusiastic bugler took it upon himself to start in on a rendition of "Maryland My Maryland" (the official state song of Maryland). The rest of the band joined in and another tradition was born.
Over the course of its history, the Preakness was run 11 times prior to the Kentucky Derby; and in 1917 and 1922 they were both run on the same day.
The first Preakness, held on May 27, 1873 drew a field of seven starters.
The Preakness Stakes is commonly referred to as "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" because a blanket of Black-eyed Susans, the state flower of Maryland, is traditionally placed around the winner's neck.
In 1918, 26 horses entered the Preakness and because it was run in two divisions there were two winners that year.