For the 151st time since 1873, the Preakness Stakes will be run this weekend in Maryland. But, for the first time in over a century, it will not be run at famed Pimlico Race Course.
Up to 14 horses will run the 1 3/16-mile race, the second of horse racing’s Triple Crown on the evening of Saturday, May 16.
Here’s what to know about the 2026 Preakness Stakes:
When is the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
The Preakness occupies its traditional date of the third Saturday in May and post time for “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” is set for 6:50 p.m. ET. The famed race carries that moniker as it’s the name of the blanket of flowers draped over the winning horse.
How can I watch the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
NBC owns the broadcast rights for the Preakness and will broadcast it via traditional cable/satellite carriers and stream it via Peacock and NBCSports.com.
Where will the 2026 Preakness Stakes be run?
Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, will host the Preakness this year as the race’s traditional home, Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore is undergoing $250 million in renovations. Pimlico hosted the first 17 runnings of the Preakness from 1873-1889 and then continuously from 1999 through the 150th edition in 2025.
Is the Triple Crown in play at the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
No. Shock Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness, meaning there will not be a Triple Crown winner for the first time since Justify did so in 2018. Golden Tempo’s trainer Cherie DeVaux, who became the first female trainer of a Kentucky Derby winner, announced on social media on May 6 that the thoroughbred would not be making the trip.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort,” DeVaux wrote in a statement posted to X.
Golden Tempo becomes the second straight Kentucky Derby winner not to compete in the Preakness after Sovereignty opted out last year, prompting some to wonder if the Triple Crown format should be altered.
Who are the horses in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
The field for the Preakness and post positions will be finalized on Monday, May 11.
Last 25 Preakness Stakes winners
^Kentucky Derby winner
*Triple Crown winner
What is the payout for the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
The Preakness carries a total purse of $2 million, with $1.2 earmarked for the winner. The winning trainer also receives a sterling silver replica of the Woodlawn Vase, a trophy valued at $30,000.
Weather forecast for 2026 Preakness Stakes
The forecast for Preakness day in Laurel calls for mostly clear skies with a high of 76 degrees and a scant 13 percent chance of rain, which should make for ideal racing conditions.