http://www.nwtix.com/Preakness_Stakes_Tickets.html

Preakness Stakes Tickets

Online Ticket Information.
We buy and sell Preakness Stakes Tickets.
Not only do we provide ticket prices, but updated news reports.

Preakness Stakes News:

is a prestigious Grade I stakes race 1 3/16 mile (1.91 km) thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, held on the third Saturday in May of each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies 121 lb (55 kg). The Preakness Stakes has been termed "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" because a horseshoe of black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta), the state flower of Maryland, is traditionally placed around the winner's neck.

The Preakness is the second and shortest leg in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, and almost always attracts the Kentucky Derby winner, some of the other horses that ran in the Derby, and often a few horses that did not start in the Derby. (The phrase "Triple Crown" was not applied to this series of races until the 1930s.) It is followed by the third leg, the Belmont Stakes.

Two years before the Kentucky Derby was run for the first time, Pimlico introduced its new stakes race for three-year-olds, the Preakness, during its first-ever spring race meet in 1873. Former Maryland Governor Oden Bowie named the then mile and one-half (2.41 km) race in honor of the colt Preakness, from the Preakness Stables in Wayne, New Jersey who won the Dinner Party Stakes on the day Pimlico Race Course opened in the fall of 1870.

The first Preakness drew seven starters; John Chamberlain's three-year-old, Survivor, galloped home easily by ten lengths, the largest margin of victory until 2004, winning a purse of $2,050.

In 1889, George "Spider" Anderson became the first African-American jockey to win the Preakness. In 1890 Morris Park Racetrack in the Bronx, New York hosted the race but for the next three years no Preakness Stakes was run. For the fifteen years from 1894 through 1908, the race was held at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York.

Just after the horses for the Preakness are called to the post, the audience is invited to sing "Maryland, My Maryland," the official state song of Maryland. Traditionally, the United States Naval Academy Glee Club assembles in the Pimlico infield to lead the song. This tradition mirrors the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" at the post parade for the Kentucky Derby.

As soon as the Preakness winner has been declared official, a painter climbs a ladder to the top of a replica of the Old Clubhouse cupola. He applies the colors of the victorious owner's silks on the jockey and horse which are part of the weather vane atop the infield structure. The horseshoe of black-eyed susans is also placed around the winning horse's neck at this time and a replica of the Woodlawn Vase is given to the winning horse's owner. Should that horse have also won the Kentucky Derby, speculation and excitement immediately begin to mount as to whether that horse will go on to win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing at the Belmont Stakes in June.

The practice started in 1909 at Pimlico when a horse and rider weather vane sat at the top of the old Members' Clubhouse, which was constructed when Pimlico opened in 1870. The Victorian building was destroyed by fire in June, 1966. A replica of the old building's cupola was built to stand in the Preakness winner's circle in the infield.

Event Schedule

View Home Games View Away Games

Event	Date	Tickets	Venue
Preakness Stakes	Sun May 17, 2008 11:59 pm	View Tickets	Pimlico Race Course

More Preakness Stakes News:

Bensalem, PA (Sports Network) - Love of Money, ridden by Robby Albarado, making just his fourth career start and his first in a stakes race captured the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park.

The lightly-raced three-year-old took the lead in the 1 1/8 mile race shortly after the starting gate opened. Love of Money set the pace with Illinois Derby winner Pollard's Vision running second. Stalking the pace in third was post- time favorite Tapit along with Queen's Plate winner Niigon.

Love of Money, showing his inexperience, tried to bear out entering the home stretch. Albarado quickly straightened out the colt and piloted him to a 8 1/2 length triumph. Pollard's Vision, the third choice by the betting public, was second followed by Swingforthefences, Niigon, Pies Prospect, Separato, Song of the Sword and Royal Assault.

Tapit was a disappointing 9th after racing close to the lead. My Snookie's Boy finished 10th ridden by Stewart Elliott. Elliott was the regular rider of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones. The final two finishers were Wimplestiltskin and Master David.

Preakness Stakes Tickets

Online Ticket Information. We buy and sell Preakness Stakes Tickets. Not only do we provide ticket prices, but updated news reports.

Online Ticket Information.
We buy and sell Preakness Stakes Tickets.
Not only do we provide ticket prices, but updated news reports.