Preakness Stakes: The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans

The second race that comprises the American Thoroughbred Triple Crown series after the Kentucky Derby is the Preakness Stakes. Run for 1.91 km in the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland every third Saturday of May, the Preakness is a Grade 1 stakes race and is the second most attended in the Triple Crown series next to the Kentucky Derby.

Interestingly, while the Preakness has been called the “Run for the Black-eyed Susans” because of the 18×90 inch blanket of Rudbeckia hirta placed around the winner’s neck, no black-eyed Susan, the state flower of Maryland, is ever used. This is because black-eyed Susans do not bloom until June or July. Daisies with centers painted with black lacquer to mimic the look of the black-eyed Susan are used instead.

Originally, a silver Woodlawn Vase (valued in 1983 at $1 million) was presented to the winner, but now, the winning owner is given a $30,000 sterling replica of the vase to keep permanently. The real one is kept on display at The Baltimore Museum of Art and brought only to Pimlico under strict guard once a year during the presentation ceremony.

This year’s (2011) Preakness is unique with the introduction of Preakness 5.5, a special bonus program. This is historic inasmuch as it could award an additional $5.5 million in bonuses to the winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes, to be shared between the owner ($5 million) and the trainer ($500,000).

This program allows both east and west coast based three-year-old horses to qualify in preliminary races which will be held at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. It will be, in the words of Frank Stronach, Chairman of MI Developments Inc. who will give the prize, “a spectacular event for the fans and to create a potential life changing experience for the stakeholders of the racing industry.” He hopes that that this will “represent the greatest hope for the renewal of the thoroughbred racing business in America.”

Some of the notable jockeys who have also dominated the Kentucky Derby have also made their marks in the Preakness: Eddie Arcaro has won it six times and Bill Hartack has won it for three. In 2009, Rachel Alexandra ridden by Calvin Borel was the only horse ever to win from the farthest outside position in the Preakness.