Pimlico Race Course
Home of the Preakness Stakes — the second leg of the Triple Crown, run on the third Saturday in May. Pimlico opened in 1870 and is the second-oldest racetrack in the United States, with the Preakness drawing 100,000+ racegoers to Baltimore each spring.
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE (LEFT-HANDED)
EST. 1870
About Pimlico Race Course
Home of the Preakness Stakes — the second leg of the Triple Crown, run on the third Saturday in May. Pimlico opened in 1870 and is the second-oldest racetrack in the United States, with the Preakness drawing 100,000+ racegoers to Baltimore each spring. Pimlico Race Course is located at 5201 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215.
Preakness Stakes, third Saturday in May
The second leg of the Triple Crown, run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The 1 3/16-mile Preakness is the shortest Triple Crown race and the one where Triple Crown bids are most often saved or extended — American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) both came through the Preakness on their way to Triple Crown sweeps.
Meets & featured races
Pimlico operates a compressed spring meet built around the third Saturday in May — Preakness Stakes Day. The track also stages a short April meet and the Black-Eyed Susan card on the Friday before the Preakness. Year-round Maryland racing is concentrated at Laurel Park, with Pimlico hosting only the Preakness week itself.
Preakness Stakes (third Saturday in May)
The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans. Run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown and the shortest at 1 3/16 miles on dirt. The race typically attracts the top-finishing Kentucky Derby horses plus a small number of fresh contenders who skipped Churchill Downs. The shorter distance and tighter track configuration produce different race dynamics than the Derby.
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Friday before Preakness)
The Black-Eyed Susan is the Friday equivalent of the Preakness for three-year-old fillies, run over 1 1/8 miles on dirt with a $250,000 purse. The race honors Maryland’s state flower and serves as a key prep for the Coaching Club American Oaks and other major filly races later in the summer.
Preakness Key Trends
Pimlico’s tight turns and shorter distance favor horses with tactical speed — pure closers who dominate the Kentucky Derby often struggle to find a winning position at Pimlico. Post position matters more than at Churchill Downs due to the shorter run to the first turn. Kentucky Derby form is the most reliable form line, but Derby skippers regularly upset.
Heritage
Pimlico opened in 1870, making it the second-oldest racetrack in the United States (after Saratoga). The track is famously called ‘Old Hilltop’ in reference to the small infield rise that was leveled in 1938. A major reconstruction of the Pimlico facility was approved in 2024, with the Preakness expected to temporarily relocate during construction.
Live races at Pimlico
Upcoming races at this track
Live racecards pulled from our North American racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
No scheduled meets at this track in the next 14 days.
Check the Racing Predictor for today's races at other US tracks, or visit Racing Data for past results and statistics.
Preakness Stakes — key trends
Bet on Pimlico with AmWager
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Track statistics & betting angles
1-mile dirt main track and a 7-furlong inner turf course. Pimlico’s tighter turns and shorter chutes favor tactical speed over deep closers.
The Preakness is positioned exactly two weeks after the Kentucky Derby — the tightest window in the Triple Crown. Many Derby horses skip the Preakness, preferring to point at the Belmont fresh.
Pimlico ground is typically fast in May. Heavy rain on Preakness Day has historically favored speed; rare bog conditions can shake up form dramatically.
Bob Baffert has dominated the modern Preakness era. Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown all have strong records. Maryland-based trainers occasionally upset the major shippers.
How to watch Pimlico racing
NBC Sports broadcasts the Preakness Stakes nationally as part of its Triple Crown coverage. FanDuel TV provides daily live coverage of Pimlico race days. For race-by-race picks, the horse.bet Racing Predictor publishes Preakness Day picks the morning of racing.
Visiting Pimlico
Pimlico Race Course is in north Baltimore, about 4 miles from the Inner Harbor. The track is accessible by car (limited free parking) and by MTA Light Rail. Preakness Day tickets sell out months in advance; infield tickets remain the most accessible option for first-time attendees. Note: Pimlico’s reconstruction is underway as of 2025 — check the official Preakness website for the current race schedule and venue.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Preakness Stakes?
The Preakness Stakes is run on the third Saturday in May each year, exactly two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
How long is the Preakness Stakes?
The Preakness is run over 1 3/16 miles on dirt — the shortest of the three Triple Crown races.
How can I bet on the Preakness?
AmWager offers Preakness Day wagering with new customer bonuses, plus betting on every major US race year-round from one account.
What is Pimlico’s nickname?
Pimlico is known as ‘Old Hilltop’ in reference to a small infield rise that was leveled in 1938. The nickname has stuck.
Where can I find Preakness picks?
The horse.bet Racing Predictor publishes Preakness Day picks the morning of racing, with full-field probability ratings.
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