Preakness Stakes betting weekend is everything for the Pimlico race track in Baltimore, Maryland. It is pretty much the only reason the rack still exists. In addition to Preakness Stakes odds, there will be 15 stakes races on Preakness Stakes weekend.
Preakness Stakes betting is the highlight of Preakness Stakes weekend. The 135th running of the Preakness Stakes will be the race that most people focus on but it is not the only stakes race. There are 15 of the 18 stakes races at Pimlico worth $2.4 million on Preakness weekend. The action begins on Friday, March 14th with seven stakes races including the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies. Also on Friday is the second annual $50,000 Pimlico Jockey Challenge. Eight top jockeys in the world will compete in four races. The jockeys expected to compete are Kent Desormeaux, Garrett Gomez, John Velazquez, Julien Leparoux, Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, Jeremy Rose, and Anna Napravnik. Some of these jockeys will also be racing in the Preakness on Saturday, May 15th.
There is no question that Preakness Stakes betting weekend is highlighted by the $1 million Preakness on Saturday, May 15th. There are six graded races on Saturday although the Grade 1 Pimlico Special and the Grade 2 Allaire duPont Distaff are no longer on the card due to falling purses at Pimlico.
Pimlico racing will feature a new wager as there will be an all-turf pick three on the last three races of the day. It will be offered on most days although not on Friday and Saturday of Preakness weekend. Pimlico opened their meet with the $70,000 Henry Clark at one mile on the turf. Pimlico and Laurel Park were going to be auctioned off but Magna Entertainment Corp canceled the action and now plays to transfer the tracks to MI Developments.
Pimlico badly needs Preakness odds on the weekend to be huge. Racing in Baltimore is on its last legs. Pimlico is not a track that is popular with horseman or the owners. The racing purses are smaller and owners and trainers would rather send their horses to New York or California. Pimlico has the Preakness though which makes it relevant for at least one weekend out of the racing season. Whether that will continue into the future is unclear but the 135th Preakness will be run and it should be an exciting race.