Preakness Stakes

America's Best Racing, the fan-development platform and national marketing initiative funded by The Jockey Club, will host its 11th annual Pre-Preakness Party May 14 at Laurel Park. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation have been named as the event's primary charitable beneficiaries. TAA will present a silent auction featuring premium racing memorabilia and collectibles. "Every ticket sold and every dollar raised at the Pre-Preakness Party makes a direct difference in the lives of off-the-track-Thoroughbreds," said Georganne Hale, senior vice president of Racing Development of The...

Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables' Gosger (Nyquist), who won last year's GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes before taking a pair of heartbreaking defeats behind Journalism (Curlin) in Grade I company, makes his 4-year-old debut in a two-turn allowance with an option to enter for a $125,000 claiming tag Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park. The homebred son of Gloria S. (Tapit), a half-brother to Grade I winner Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah), won the Lexington in just his third career start for Brendan Walsh and looked every bit a winner of the...

Trainer Danny Eubanks--who has been managing his mother Annette's barn for the past year and a half--earned his first official win with his first starter at Laurel Park Sunday when Mugatu (Blofeld) surged from last under jockey Carlos Lopez to win the day's opener, a $20,000 starter allowance. "I think I stopped breathing at the quarter pole until he crossed the line," Eubanks said in the winner's circle. "This isn't as big as the emotions when my mom won her 500th because that took a lot more effort. This feels...

Back in 1988, attendance for the GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel Race Course was 7,372. By 2002, the Preakness crowd at the renamed Laurel Park had more than doubled, to 15,917. Of course, those figures from decades ago weren't for the in-person, live running of the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Those head counts represent only people who turned out for Laurel's simulcast of the Preakness. The race itself was conducted 28 miles north at the Preakness's traditional Baltimore home, Pimlico Race Course. In that era, the Preakness throng...

The late trainers Christophe Clement and John Shirreffs, as well as GI Belmont Stakes-winning filly Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) are among 13 finalists who will appear on this year's ballot for inclusion in the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Clement, who passed away last spring, trained Eclipse champion Gio Ponti, as well as Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist. Shirreffs, who passed away earlier this month, trained four-time champion Zenyatta, as well as GI Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. The two trainers are joined on the ballot by Ken McPeek,...

Nominations for the 2026 Triple Crown, with an early payment of $600, are due Monday at midnight at www.thetriplecrown.com. After Monday, horses can still be nominated during the late nomination phase with a $6,000 payment between Jan. 27 and Apr. 6. The final opportunity for eligibility is through a supplemental nomination fee due at entry time for each Triple Crown race: Kentucky Derby ($200,000), Preakness ($150,000), and Belmont Stakes ($50,000).

Seize the Grey (Arrogate--Smart Shopping, by Smart Strike), winner of the 2024 GI Preakness Stakes, was represented by his first foal when stakes-winning Dontmesswithjoanne (Pioneerof the Nile) produced a colt at Tanya Johnson's Red Gables Stud Jan. 17. "We couldn't be happier with this mare's first foal for us. He is strong, correct, and has impressive size," Johnson said. "Seize the Grey delivered everything we were looking for in this mating, and we are excited to watch his progress." In addition to the Preakness, Seize the Grey also won the...

Journalism (Curlin), last year's GI Preakness S., GI Santa Anita Derby and GI NYRA Bets Haskell S. winner, is back home at Santa Anita after receiving a winter break at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida. He jogged on the main track for the first time Saturday morning. "It seemed like the ship went fine--he's full of himself," trainer Michael McCarthy said. "Happy he's back." McCarthy added, "He'll start galloping here in a few days get back in his routine." Under consideration as a major goal for Journalism the first half...

Umberto Rispoli, who captured his first riding title at the recently concluded Del Mar meet, will make a return visit to Hong Kong for Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley. The Italian ex-pat spent six years riding in Hong Kong before relocating to Southern California in 2019. For Rispoli, who flew into Hong Kong last Tuesday--just two days after claiming the Del Mar title--the trip is part sentiment, part family vacation, and part professional competition. "I rode here for six years, so obviously Hong Kong is a place...

Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), looking to cap an historic sophomore campaign, drew post six and was promptly installed the 6-5 favorite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. "No complaints about that," trainer Bill Mott told Brittney Eurton at the post position draw held Monday afternoon in the Del Mar paddock. "There is some speed inside and it gives him a good opportunity to see what is unfolding in the race." Since his win in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty has added victories in the...

Edited Press Release Not This Time (Giant's Causeway--Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi), in the midst of a landmark season, will stand for $250,000 S&N in 2026, Taylor Made Stallions announced Wednesday. He stood the 2025 season at $175,000. The sire of nine Grade I winners, Not This Time's progeny have been dominating on the racetrack and delivering impressive results in the auction ring. He is the number one-ranked sire by black-type winners with 22, and the number two-ranked General Sire in 2025 with nearly $19 million in progeny earnings. He...

Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality), winner of the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness Stakes, leads a class of seven who will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Friday morning. The champion 3-year-old of 2004, the lone selection in the contemporary category, joins racehorses Decathlon, Hermis and trainer George H. Conway, who were chosen by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee; and Edward L. Bowen, Arthur Hancock, III, and Richard Ten Broeck, who were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. The induction...