Today’s Preakness Stakes Forecast, Track Conditions, Purse and Odds

Preakness Stakes Odds, Pimlico Racecourse Track

In 2013, the Maryland Jockey Club announced would increased the purse for the Preakness Stakes from $1 million, which had been the figure since 1998, to $1.5 million where it remainst today. The Preakness purse has regularly been among the highest in American racing, which is expected as it’s one of the three classic races run each year and the middle jewel of the prestigious Triple Crown.

At its inauguration in 1873, the Preakness carried a value of $1,000 and the first major increase occurred in 1919 when the race was boosted to $25,000. The purse then grew to $100,000 in 1946 and $150,000, in 1959 where it was briefly the richest Triple Crown race. From 1979 to 1989, the Preakness purse rose four times from $200,000 to $500,000, before attaining its million-dollar status.

Shackleford in 2011 still has the distinction of taking home the most Preakness money as he earned $1.1 million. California Chrome (2014), Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (2015), Exaggerator (2016), Cloud Computing (2017), Triple Crown winner Justify (2018) and War of Will a year ago each earned $900,000 for their connections. The filly Rachel Alexandra’s owners cashed a $660,000 check in 2009 and Big Brown’s owners received $650,000 for his win in 2008.

Preakness Stakes Purse

This year the Preakness purse has again been set at $1 million.

Preakness: Favorites Authentic, Art Collector, Swissskydiver