Nine Horses Compete in 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico

The 150th Preakness Stakes, the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is set for May 17, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, featuring a field of nine horses led by Journalism, the Kentucky Derby runner-up and morning-line favorite at 8-5 odds. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will skip the Preakness to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, eliminating any chance for a Triple Crown winner this year. Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by jockey Umberto Rispoli, has four wins in six starts and will seek redemption after finishing second in the Derby. The race includes six horses making their Triple Crown debuts and notable contenders such as Sandman and Clever Again. The Preakness will be contested at its traditional 1 3/16-mile distance and marks the final running at the current Pimlico before planned reconstruction, accompanied by a week-long Preakness Festival celebrating Maryland's equine heritage. Historical context highlights the Preakness as a prestigious race with a rich history of varying distances and record-setting times, including Secretariat's fastest official time of 1:53.00.