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PREAKNESS STAKES
HISTORY
5/19/12
With the Kentucky Derby for 2012 now in the history
books, all eyes will turn towards the Preakness Stakes on May 19th.
The Preakness Stakes always draws interest due to the fact that
heading in, there's hope every year that we'll get to see a Triple
Crown winner, the first in 34 years. The pressure will be on Derby
winner I'll Have Another who is likely to attract much of the betting
action. With that in mind, let's take a look at the history of the
2nd jewel of the triple crown, The Preakness Stakes.
The Preakness was first contested at historic
Pimlico in 1873 two years before the inaugural running of the
Kentucky Derby. The Preakness was part of the first spring meet ever
contested at Pimlico Racetrack. The first running drew a field of
seven contenders. Survivor won the inaugural running by an
astonishing 10 lengths. The distance for the Preakness is 1 3/16
miles compared to 1 ¼ miles for the Kentucky Derby, and 1 ½ miles
for the Belmont Stakes. Beginning in 1931 the Triple Crown started
with the Kentucky Derby, and then was followed by the Preakness. The
last leg of the Triple Crown, the Test of Champions, is the Belmont
Stakes.
Much like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness has many traditions. The
Alibi Breakfast is one of Preakness day’s oldest traditions. In the
1930’s when it started it was just a group of trainers and owners
having a cup of coffee at the Old Clubhouse. They would meet when
training started at 6:00am and would end when training ended at
10:00am. Over the years this idea has grown and today the Alibi
Breakfast includes trainers, owners, jockeys, and media. When the
field is called to post the official state song “Maryland, My
Maryland” is sung lead by The United States Naval Academy Glee Club.
After the race is finished a blanket of Black Eyed Susans are draped
over the winning horse. The blanket is actually Daisies that are
painted black to resemble a Black Eyed Susan because the particular
flower is not in bloom that time of the year. The owners receive a
replica of the Woodlawn Vase which is considered one of the most
valuable trophies in sports. Once the race is over and the winners
circle has been cleared out, Pimlico will paint the colors of the
winning owner’s silks onto the weather vane that’s atop a replica of
the Old Clubhouse. This replica is located in the Pimlico winner’s
circle in the infield.
The Preakness has seen many impressive performances over the years
whether it be from a trainer, jockey, or horse. Eddie Arcaro holds
the record for Preakness wins with 7 followed by Pat Day at 6. R.
Wyndham Walden leads all trainers with an amazing 7 victories with
Thomas Healey and D Wayne Lukas tied for 2nd with 5 victories. The
record for the largest winning margin goes to Smarty Jones with his
win by 11 ½ lengths in the 2004 Preakness. One of the most talked
about Preakness performances goes to Secretariat in his 1973
Preakness; but it wasn’t because of his performance. The Daily
Racing Form credits Secretariat with running a final time of 1:53
2/5. Unfortunately during the running of the race something went
wrong with the track timer and Secretariat was given a time of 1:54
2/5. Because of the mistake Secretariat did not sweep the Triple
Crown track records. He is only credited for breaking the track
records at Churchill Downs in The Kentucky Derby and at Belmont in
The Belmont Stakes. The list of great performances could go on
forever but a few of my favorites include Afleet Alex and jockey
Jeremy Rose’s balancing act to avoid serious injury, Point Given
redeeming himself after a poor Kentucky Derby effort, and Sunday
Silence and Easy Goer’s stretch duel in 1989.
Traditions and memorable moments that go back over 100 years are
just a few of the reasons why horse racing is so unique from other
sporting events and are what make every Preakness day great.
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