Where Is the Preakness Stakes?

Preakness

BALTIMORE, MD – MAY 17: The field races into the first turn during the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 17, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Preakness annually happens on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the running of the first leg of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby.

The Preakness Stakes takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Nicknamed “Old Hilltop” because of the elevated area in the infield that became a popular spot for horse owners, Pimlico Race Course is located about 15 minutes northwest of downtown Baltimore. The Race Course has almost 150 years of history.

The inaugural Preakness Stakes was in 1873. Since then, the nine-and-a-half furlong (mile and 3/16) race has become a yearly staple on the horse racing calendar.

This year, American Pharoah won the most anticipated Kentucky Derby in years by a length over Firing Line and fellow Bob Baffert trainee, Dortmund. Several horses that ran in the 2015 Kentucky Derby are expected to run in the Preakness including Dortmund and Danzig Moon.

Pimlico Race Course is notably the track where 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke through the gate before the start of the race. The horse was later pulled up by jockey Edgar Prado due to breaking his right hind leg. The horse was euthanized eight months later in January 2007.

The 2015 Preakness takes place Saturday, May 16th. Coverage begins on NBC at 2:30 with pre-race coverage leading into the race. Post time is at 6:14 p.m. Eastern.