5 Things You Need to Know About Preakness Stakes 150

The Preakness Stakes lost plenty of its luster when Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty opted out of the second leg of the Triple Crown. The decision will force many casual horse racing fans to skip the race, too. I’m here to tell you that there are still a few things that will make this year’s Preakness Stakes worth your while.

This is the Last Preakness Stakes at “Old Hilltop”

It’s not fair to say that Pimlico Race Course is in ruin, but it’s in bad shape. One part of the grandstand that sat 7,000 people was found to be unsafe and condemned back in 2019. After this year’s race, the grandstand, clubhouse, and barns will be razed, paving the way for $500 million in renovations. Next year’s Preakness Stakes will be held at Maryland’s Laurel Park.

Ahead of the renovations, I learned that Pimlico was once referred to as “Old Hilltop.” When the racetrack was constructed back in 1870, there was a berm in the middle of the Infield. The small hill gave horse racing fans a better view of the track. At certain points, it blocked the view of the racetrack for some fans in the grandstands, which is why Pimlico decided to remove the dirt and dismantle the Ole Hilltop back in 1938.

The Preakness Stakes is Actually Older than the Kentucky Derby

In the Baltimore Sun story from Hayes Gardner, a former CJ writer, he also noted that the Preakness Stakes is actually older than the Kentucky Derby. Named after one of the first horses to win at Pimlico back in 1870, the Preakness Stakes was first held in 1873, two years before the Kentucky Derby. The first leg of the Triple Crown has the distinction of being the longest continuously held sporting event in North America because the Preakness briefly moved to New York and was not held at all between 1891-93.

A Father-Daughter Team

Horse racing is often a family affair. Steve Asmussen’s sons are both jockeys. Kent Desormeaux is a jockey and his brother Keith is a trainer.

In this year’s Preakness Stakes, we have a father-daughter team. Heart of Honor ran second in the UAE Derby. He’s trained by Jamie Osborne and his daughter, Saffie, will be in the irons on Saturday. Heart of Honor is 12-1 on the morning line and is a horse I will be including in my exotic wagers.

One Horse will earn a free Lifetime Retirement

Much of the attention to the schedule of the Triple Crown is focused on the Preakness Stakes, but it also hurts the undercard. Many horses are pointed to big-time races on the Derby or Belmont undercard, leaving the Preakness without as many big names in other horse racing divisions.

There is one race on the Preakness Stakes undercard that provides a wonderful storyline. Race 2 is an allowance race named for Old Friends Farm. The Georgetown horse farm is a retirement community for thoroughbreds, with almost 500 active patrons, including the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, Silver Charm. The winner of race 2 on Saturday at Pimlico will receive a guaranteed lifetime retirement at Old Friends Farm.

Sandman is Ditching his Shoes for the Preakness Stakes

Diehard horse racing fans continue to find bones to pick with Sandman, thanks to its connections. Social media influencer Griffin Johnson shined a light on the sport by producing widely shared videos for his Tik Tok on the road to the Kentucky Derby. He has been nitpicked to death for his approach by older fans who were even more fired up after one post-Derby revelation.

Ahead of the race at Churchill Downs, Sandman was fitted with “Hanton Horseshoes” on his front feet. He had thick patches of glue shaped as a trapezoid on both sides of his front feet where there are typically nails. Trainer Mark Casse explained they felt he was a bit sore of foot, and these horseshoes could alleviate some of that pain. Bettors were outraged that they did not know this before he finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby. Those shoes will be ditched for traditional horseshoes at this year’s Preakness Stakes.