The eyes of the sports world turn to Baltimore each May for the annual running of the Preakness Stakes. The second jewel in the Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred Racing, the Preakness Stakes is also won of the oldest annual sports event in the United States
Run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks prior to the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness Stakes also provides sports bettors with a unique opportunity to try their hand at wagering on the “Sport of Kings”.
Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for wagering on the “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans”.
Preakness Stakes 2026 – Bet the Second Jewel of the Triple Crown
The Preakness Stakes 2026 is set for May 15th at Laurel Park between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. This is a temporary relocation because Pimlico is closed for a major renovation and rebuild, with plans to return the race there in 2027. As the second leg of the Triple Crown, this 1 3/16-mile race often features the Kentucky Derby winner, setting the stage for potential history. It’s faster than the Derby, tighter, and frequently delivers upset results.
With top sportsbooks and racebooks offering generous free bet promotions and boosted odds, it’s one of the biggest weekends of the year for horseplayers and casual bettors alike.
Last year’s Preakness saw Journalism rally from just off the pace to win the 150th running at Pimlico, holding off longshot Gosger while Sandman finished third. The victory paid about $4.00 on a $2 win ticket and rewarded backers of the favorite, just as Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipped the race to focus on other targets.
Despite Sovereignty bypassing the Preakness, Journalism’s strong finish reshaped the 2025 Triple Crown picture and provided value for bettors backing a late-running favorite.
Compared to the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness usually draws a smaller field—often between 8 and 12 starters—and produces a sharper early pace. The shift to Laurel Park for 2026 doesn’t change the race’s identity: it still favors front-runners and stalkers who can stay engaged around tighter turns. Unlike the Belmont Stakes, which tests deep stamina, the Preakness remains a showcase for speed and tactical positioning.
2026 Preakness Stakes Early Contenders & Odds
Early Preakness markets (subject to change) are expected to feature the following:
- Journalism (+300) – Strong 2025 Preakness winner with a running style tailor-made for the distance.
- Sovereignty (+450) – The 2025 Kentucky Derby champion; major contender if connections choose to enter.
- Sandman (+650) – Improving colt who held his own in top spring races and continues to develop.
- Gosger (+900) – Surprised many with a big showing in the 2025 Preakness and could move forward at 1 3/16 miles.
You can bet win/place/show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta, plus future matchups at select sportsbooks.
Preakness Stakes 2026 Betting Promotions & Top Sites
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SPA250
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BET200
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| Sportsbook / Racebook | Promo | Promo Code |
|---|---|---|
| AmWager | 💰 $150 Deposit Match for New Customers | – |
| Bet365 NJ | 🏇 Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets | USB365 |
| BetRivers NJ | 🎁 Second Chance Bet up to $250 | NJBRV |
| FanDuel NJ | 🎯 Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets | – |
| Hard Rock Bet NJ | 🔁 First Bet Refund up to $100 | – |
During race week, expect Preakness odds boosts, enhanced exactas, and free-to-enter leaderboard contests at top sites.
Just getting into Preakness Stakes betting for the first time, and don’t know where to start? Here’s a look at some of the lucrative welcome offers and betting bonuses currently available from some of the most popular sportsbooks in the USA.
| Sportsbook | Preakness Stakes Offers 2026 |
| AmWager | Best offers on Preakness Stakes, up to $150 Free Bet. |
| DRF Bets | Promo code to get up to five $200 Free Bets if your first Fixed-Odds wager. |
| TwinSpires | Best Preakness Stakes Odds, live in-game betting. |
Horse.bet Expert Take – How to Bet the Preakness
“The Preakness is all about sharp turns and fast pace—speed horses tend to hold up better than closers who thrive at the Derby’s longer distance. If the Derby winner enters, watch for early price drops and potential value on second-tier contenders.”
– Horse.bet Editorial Team
Top Tip: Focus on horses who either ran well in the Derby but got blocked or skipped it altogether and come in fresh. Shorter distances and fewer runners make exactas and trifectas more manageable.
Where can you bet and claim offers for 2026?
Fans can place Preakness Stakes wagers through licensed racebooks: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.
Where to find odds and bet on the Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes represents the second leg of the Triple Crown of American thoroughbred racing. As a result, there is heightened interest at sportsbooks in the odds of the Kentucky Derby winner going on to win the Triple Crown.
Preakness Stakes odds usually open within hours of the running of the “Run for the Roses.
Those odds are accompanied by an array of other betting options as race day draws near, including an array of props bets, including wagering on the winning horse’s time, margin of victory, and even which horse will finish last.
The Preakness Stakes also provides an ideal opportunity for sports bettors to get in on the parimutuel action at the racebook. In addition to win/place/show betting that can enable you to bet on your favorite horse to finish first, second, or third. Moreover, there are plenty of exotic betting options in the racebook. That includes exacta wagering, which allows you to bet on which horses will finish first and second, in exact order, and trifecta betting, which lets you bet on the top three finishers, in exact order.
When is the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
May 15, 2026 – Maryland. The Preakness Stakes is traditionally run on the third Sunday of May each year, meaning the scheduled date for the 2026 edition of the second jewel in the Triple Crown is May 15.
Where to watch the Preakness Stakes
Sports bettors in the United States can catch all the Preakness Stakes action on NBC. Coverage of race day events begins early in the day on the USA Network and NBCSports.com. Live coverage of the race is available on NBC and NBCSports.com. And it also streamed to paid subscribers on Peacock and the NBC Sports mobile app.
Preakness Stakes Online Betting FAQ
The 2026 Preakness Stakes is scheduled to take place at Laurel Park in Maryland, on Saturday, May 15, 2026, with post time expected to be at approximately 6:30 pm ET.
You can tune into all the Preakness Stakes action on NBC. Paid subscribers can also stream the “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” on NBCSports.com, Peacock, and the NBC Sports mobile app,
The Preakness Stakes provides sports bettors with a unique betting opportunity. In addition to a have slate of futures odds and props at your preferred sportsbook. You can also take enjoy all of the advantages of pari-mutuel betting at racebooks associated with America’s top sportsbooks.
