After the 2020 postponement until October due to the Covid pandemic, this year’s Preakness Stakes returns to its traditional place, 2 weeks after the Kentucky Derby and 3 weeks before the Belmont Stakes. Middle child syndrome certainly does not apply to this year’s middle gem of the Triple Crown series. The public spotlight shines more brightly than ever on the racing world.
Thoroughbred racing has been highly scrutinized driven by public concerns over issues of safety and oversight. Running counts of horse deaths on the track have stirred political and industry regulatory modifications. Continued doping issues have also plagued the sport most recently with this year’s Derby. Winner, Medina Spirit, failed a drug test and trainer Bob Baffert was subsequently suspended from racing any horse at Churchill Downs. Medina Spirit was the 5th Baffert horse to fail a drug test in the past year. Buffers denies knowledge of the incident. Medina Spirit’s Derby win stands pending results from a second test due within a few weeks.
Tuesday it was announced that Medina Spirit along with two other Baffert horses will be permitted to race this weekend pending special conditions. Baffert’s 3 horses will race without Baffert in attendance and pending pre-race testing. If test results are positive, Baffert has agreed to scratch the horse.
Wednesday post positions were drawn for the 10 thoroughbreds who will run 1 3/16 mile this Saturday. The coveted Woodlawn Vase will be awarded to the winner along with a $1 million purse. While this year’s field will race without female influence – no fillies, no female jockeys or trainers – there are many female footnotes in the Preakness’s history.
3 female jockeys have raced in the Preakness Stakes. 1985, Patricia Cooksey placed sixth on Tarawa. Andrea Seefeldt placed seventh on Looking in 1994 and Rosie Napravnik placed 3rd on Mylute in 2013 and 9th the following year on Bayern.
Since 1968, 14 women trainers have run horses in the Preakness Stakes. The first, Judy Johnson placed seventh on Sir Beau. Most recently Linda Rice with Kid Cruz placed 8th in 2014. No female trainer has won the race but Nancy Alberts’ horse Magic Weisner came close placing second in 2002.
55 Fillies have raced and 6 have won the Preakness Stakes. Flocarline, 1903; Whimsical, 1906; Rhine Maiden, 1915; Nellie Morse, 1924; Rachel Alexandra, 2009 and Swiss Skydiver, 2020.
Rachel Alexandra wins the 2009 Kentucky Oaks. pc – Lee Burchfield/Wikimedia Commons
Current odds show Medina Spirit the favorite to win this year’s Preakness Stakes. Looks like the news of the Kentucky Derby winner testing positive for the drug test didn’t effect its odds. History’s statistics may also provide insight for choosing the winner.
More than half of the winning Preakness horses have been bays
The Preakness is usually won by horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby
The favorite wins the Preakness more than half of the time
Horses breaking from post position No. 6 have won the race a record 16 times
No horse sent off at odds greater than 23-1 has won the Preakness
More horses whose name begins with the letter “S” have won the race
