SouthernWorldwide.com – The 151st Preakness Stakes, a pivotal event in horse racing, is set to unfold on Saturday, but with a significant alteration: it will not be held at its traditional venue, Pimlico Race Course.
This marks a historic first, as the Preakness Stakes will be contested at an alternate track. Pimlico Race Course, located in Baltimore, is currently undergoing renovations with the aim of being fully operational for the following season.
Consequently, this year’s Preakness Stakes will take place at Laurel Park. This facility is situated just outside Washington, D.C., approximately 20 miles south of the usual Pimlico grounds.
Adding to the narrative, the Preakness Stakes will proceed without the presence of the Kentucky Derby winner, Golden Tempo. This absence means that the possibility of witnessing a Triple Crown victory this year will not be realized.
A field of fourteen 3-year-old horses will compete over a distance of 1 3/16 miles, vying for a substantial purse of $2 million.
Among the contenders, Taj Mahal, trained by Brittany Russell, and Incredibolt, under the tutelage of Riley Mott, are both listed with odds of 5-1.
Great White, trained by John Ennis, carries odds of 7-1. Ocelli, trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, and Iron Honor, trained by Chad Brown, are both at 8-1.
The weekend commenced with a somber note. On Friday, the horse Hit Zero tragically collapsed and passed away immediately after completing its debut race.
Hit Zero, also trained by Russell, finished in last place despite being the favorite. Reports indicate that after crossing the finish line, Hit Zero began to cough, faltered to its knees, lowered its head, and then died.
The horse racing community is hopeful that no further tragedies will mar the second leg of the Triple Crown.
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The lineup of fourteen horses represents the largest field the Preakness Stakes has seen in fifteen years. This also marks the second occasion in the last four decades where either the first or second-place finisher from the Kentucky Derby is absent from the Preakness Stakes.
Of the horses participating in the Preakness Stakes, only three had previously competed in the Kentucky Derby: Ocelli (who finished third), Robusta (who finished fourteenth), and Incredibolt (who finished sixth). Great White had been slated to run in the Kentucky Derby but was subsequently withdrawn.
Following Cherie DeVaux’s historic achievement as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, Brittany Russell now has the opportunity to become the first woman trainer to win the Preakness Stakes.
Taj Mahal, Russell’s charge, boasts an unblemished record at Laurel Park, having won all three of its previous races held at the venue.
Location: Laurel, Maryland
Date: May 16, 2026
Projected Post Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
Television Coverage: NBC
Prize Money: $2 million
