Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes is the shortest leg and the second in Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing, it usually attracts the winner and some other horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby, and often a few horses that were not in the Derby. It is followed by the third leg, the Belmont Stakes. This series of races were first called the "Triple Crown" at the 1930s. See Triple Crown history.

Pimlico introduced the Preakness, its new stakes race for three-year-olds, during its first-ever spring race meet in 1873, two years before the first Kentucky Derby. The race was named after Preakness, the Dinner Party Stakes winner, from the Preakness Stables in Wayne, New Jersey.

Much happens during this Pimlico festive time, held in the third Saturday in May, but horse racing has always drawn the fans. The name "Triple Crown" was not used until the 1930's, As poet Ogden Nash wrote: "The Derby is a race of aristocratic sleekness, for horses of birth to prove their worth to run in the Preakness." Preakness Stakes is where the best of the Derby horses gather to see if there will be that window of opportunity for a Triple Crown prospect.