By Callum Close
Racing fans across the globe will turn their heads towards Baltimore this weekend, as the second jewel in the American ‘Triple Crown’ gets underway – the 2025 Preakness Stakes.
A distance of 9.5 furlongs, between the starting gates and the shadows of the winning post, await horses looking to take home a share of two million dollars in prize money.
It is the second-most watched and attended horse race in the United States, surpassed only by the Kentucky Derby – the first jewel in the ‘Triple Crown’ series.
Winners of all three races in the series, in the same season, are dubbed ‘Triple Crown’ winners but this season will see the title unawarded for the seventh consecutive year.
Trainer Bill Mott revealed – after winning the Kentucky Derby 10 days ago – that the Godolphin-owned Sovereignty won’t run in The Preakness Stakes and will target the third race in the series – the Belmont Stakes.
Therefore, trainer Bob Baffert’s Justify will remain the latest to boast the title, after winning all three races back in 2018.
Fresh from a Derby weekend featuring extreme weather conditions and jockey fines, the Americans are sure to put on a show as the racing world looks stateside once more.
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When is the Preakness Stakes?
Saturday, May 16 is the date that will see thousands flock to Pimlico Racecourse for the 150th running of the race.
The race will begin at around 6:50pm local time (10:50pm UK time) and is the penultimate race on the card.
The 101st running of the ‘Black-Eyed Susan Stakes’, a Grade 2 contest which is the centerpiece of a 14-race programme, serves as a fitting prelude to the main event.
It runs the day before and is due off at 5:44pm local time (9:44pm UK time).
Trainers to watch
Two-time ‘Triple Crown’ winning trainer Baffert is an obvious person to highlight in any race that his horses run in.
He is the leading trainer in the race with eight winners, a total matched by nobody, and trains the undefeated Goal Oriented – his sole representative in the race.
Should he emerge victorious in the “Old Line State” it would be his fifth win in the race since 2010.
Last year’s winning trainer D.Wayne Lukas is looking to match Baffert’s total number of winners in the Preakness Stakes.
The 89-year-old boasts a star-studded career, including training the most winners of ‘Triple Crown’ races, and is represented by one horse in this year’s showpiece
Two-time Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer winner Steven Asmussen is the leading trainer of 2025, according to prize money.
He is searching for his third win in the race – his first since 2009.
However, ante-post markets suggest it may pay dividends to follow Michael McCarthy, as he trains the favourite Journalism – who was second in the Kentucky Derby.
There is also interest from across the Atlantic, as British trainer Jamie Osborne is sending one horse ‘over the pond’.
Heart of Honour has been active internationally for Osborne, racing five times in Dubai.
He currently trades at 12-1 for the British yard.
Jockeys to watch
Saffie Osborne is set to travel stateside to take the ride on her dad’s horse. If winning, she makes history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Preakness Stakes.
Though this makes for a fairytale plot, the field features three previous winning jockeys – two of which make up the top and third leading jockey in the standings.
The former is Flavien Prat, who won the race in 2021, for McCarthy, whilst the latter is Jose Ortiz. He won it the year after.
Prat is a French jockey, who moved full-time to the US in 2015, and has ridden numerous winners in prestigious races across the states.
Ortiz has saddled two ‘Triple Crown’ winners and along with his brother Irad Ortiz (also rides in this race) is a renowned jockey in American horse racing.
The only other previous winner in this field is two-time Eclipse Award winner John Velazquez, who won this race in 2023 when he saddled Baffert’s latest winner.
How to watch the Preakness Stakes on TV?
In the US, you’ll find the main Preakness Stakes race on live TV via NBC (earlier footage pre-4:30pm is on CNBC).
Peacock streaming service is another – more affordable – option also.
UK coverage of the event will be shown on Sky Sports Racing (channel 415) for Sky Sports Subscribers.
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