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The unpredictable nature of a horse race stems from the competitive spirit of the horses involved, as even with high-level training, they remain fundamentally wild animals.
The 147th Preakness Stakes is scheduled to be held on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. This race is the second installment of the Triple Crown series, however, there will not be a Triple Crown champion this year as Rich Strike, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, will not be participating in the nine-horse lineup.
Epicenter, the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is expected to be the favorite for the upcoming race. Secret Oath, a filly, is seen as the wildcard in the competition. Over the years, only six fillies have emerged victorious in the Preakness Stakes.
The Preakness is the shortest of the three triple crown races, and Pimlico is frequently crowded, with some calling it shabby (though I did not personally make that comment).
If you can’t make it to a traditional betting site, there are plenty of online platforms where you can bet on the Preakness. TVG is a popular choice for horse betting and accepts bets from Illinois residents.
The Preakness is a high-stakes race filled with energy and anticipation, famous for its heart-pounding sprints that build suspense and excitement. Below are five of the most gripping and intense finishes in Preakness history that are sure to give you chills.
1989: The sounds of silence
In the Kentucky Derby, Sunday Silence narrowly defeated East Goer by two-and-a-half lengths. The two horses faced off once more in what is widely regarded as the most thrilling Preakness race ever at Pimlico.
Easy Goer had a difficult start, falling behind as Sunday Silence swiftly moved up to keep pace with the leaders.
Sunday Silence took the lead, with Easy Goer right on his heels, leaving the other horses far behind. The two horses then separated from the group, making it a close competition for first place.
Sunday Silence narrowly won the race with Easy Goer close behind, but Easy Goer would go on to win the Belmont race by a significant margin, denying Sunday Silence the Triple Crown victory.
1978: The greatest, round 8
The legendary rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar in horse racing, especially during the Triple Crown races that year, is unparalleled and intertwined. It would be a disservice to their extraordinary performances to mention one without the other.
After the intense duel between Affirmed and Alydar at the Kentucky Derby, only five other horses were deemed worthy to join them at Pimlico, solidifying their positions as the top two contenders.
The race begins easily enough, with Affirmed leading at the halfway mark as Alydar starts to make his move on the backstretch, sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. The competition heats up as Alydar pushes from the outside, but Affirmed shows his determination by refusing to let go of the lead.
Affirmed narrowly defeated the competition and then went on to triumph over Alydar in an exhilarating showdown to clinch victory in the Belmont Stakes and achieve the Triple Crown.
2012: Another classic
Although I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby, experts favored Bodemeister at Pimlico in 2012 due to his perceived speed advantage in the shorter race.
Bodemeister sets the pace for the majority of the race, but the Derby champion surges ahead in the final stretch.
At the 300-yard mark, I’ll Have Another is behind by two lengths. Just 100 yards later, he catches up to Bodemeister. In the last 50 yards, he pulls ahead and wins the race, demonstrating his exceptional talent and speed.
I’ll Have Another achieved a historic feat by winning both the Preakness and Kentucky Derby, but was unable to compete in the Belmont due to a tendon injury.
1937: Admiral on board
In 1937, the Preakness was still solidifying its reputation as a premier horse race in America when War Admiral, the current Kentucky Derby winner, participated in the event just one week later.
War Admiral, the descendant of the famous Man o’ War, was favored with odds of 35 to 100 for victory.
Pompoon was the sole competitor in the race, but War Admiral surged ahead and held a lead of one and a half lengths as they reached the homestretch, seemingly securing victory from the start.
Though Pompoon posed a significant challenge, War Admiral ultimately emerged triumphant in a close photo finish, solidifying his Triple Crown win with a decisive gallop.
1969: Your majesty
Majestic Prince remained undefeated as he triumphed in the Kentucky Derby and was now gearing up to race in the prestigious Preakness.
As the horses raced towards the backstretch, Majestic Prince briefly fell behind before making a strong comeback to take the lead on the far turn. Arts and Letters made a late charge during the stretch, but Majestic Prince held on to secure victory by a slim margin.
Arts and Letters lodged a protest against a foul on Majestic Prince at the start of the race, but the protest was denied. This win was Majestic Prince’s ninth in a row.
The owners of Majestic Prince had initially chosen not to enter him in the Belmont Stakes because of an injury. However, they eventually succumbed to the pressure and decided to enter him in the race. Despite their efforts, Arts and Letters ended up winning the Belmont, beating Majestic Prince by five-and-a-half lengths. Tragically, Majestic Prince never raced again after that.
