Preakness betting history dates back to 1873 when the Preakness Stakes was founded. The first ever Preakness field had seven horses and Survivor rolled to a 10 length victory. Here is a look at more Preakness Stakes betting history.
Preakness actually didn’t occur in the late 1890’s so the race has not been run as often as the Kentucky Derby. Preakness betting history shows that the race actually changed tracks early in its history but has been run at Pimlico each year since 1909. Preakness sees the winner get the Woodlawn Vase. Actually the original trophy is kept at Pimlico and the Preakness Stakes betting winner gets a replica since the original is worth over $1 million dollars. The Preakness betting winning horse also gets the blanket of black-eyed susans which is why the race is oftentimes referred to as the race for the black-eyes susans. Strangely enough, that flower, which is the state flower of Maryland, is not even in bloom in May so the blanket is made of daisies that are dyed to look like the black-eyed susans.
Preakness history shows that the race is run at a mile and 3/16th which makes it shorter than the Kentucky Derby and longer than the Belmont. The distance of a mile and 3/16th for Preakness Stakes betting was set in 1925 and has remained so since that time. One of the most famous Preakness Stakes betting traditions has the colors of the winning horse being painted on the weather vane.
Preakness betting is similar in some respects to Kentucky Derby betting since Pimlico has the race highlight the betting weekend. In 2007 Pimlico added a race known as the Barbaro Stakes in honor of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner that broke down in the Preakness. Many people believe Barbaro would have won in Preakness and in Belmont betting if not suffering his tragic injury.
Preakness is not as popular as Kentucky Derby betting but it does decide whether or not a horse will race at Belmont for the Triple Crown. Consider the different Preakness options for the second jewel of the Triple Crown and enjoy the race.