No the Preakness winner did not die.

[trumad]

It seems an Op is floating on GD that the winner of the Preakness died.

Nope---Exaggerator is doing just fine.

[CincyDem]

1. Deaths occurred in earlier races...one was the winner of their race.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/21/sport/preakness-horse-deaths/index.html?eref=rss_us

The "Preakness" is one of 8-9 races at Pimlico on race day. The others are trivial by comparison. It's uncommon for a horse to die on the track, let alone two in the same day.

Early in the day, around 2:00EST or so, there were several reports of the winner at the Preakness dying...I think it was the first race.

Sloppy reporting. Should have been called out as the first race at Pimlico.

[liberal N proud]

2. That's how easy it is to spread misinformation

And get three people to repeat it and it is accepted as fact.

[trumad]

4. And the person who posted it...

Refuses to change the headline.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. They might not be reading DU today. These deaths at a major horse race were extremely unusual

My Opening Post got less comments and recommendations: It was taken verbatim from the Washington Post. Subsequent replies indicate the most likely causes of the deaths:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027847205
It's headline says: Two horses die in first four races of Preakness Saturday.

[Uben]

3. Exaggerator!

My nephew and his dad were in the winner's circle. They are owners of Exaggerator. There were high expectations from him since he races well in the rain and mud, as you saw. Had it been a dry track, there would likely have been a different outcome, but fortunate for them, it wasn't. Big bucks now for stud fees! Second in the Kentucky Derby and winner at the Preakness, if he should win the next race....cha-ching!

[Corgigal]

6. Good for them

Can't wait till we see the match race at the Belmont. Well, I hope they both enter. After American Pharoah, it's nice to see this type of racing too. Reminds me of the ole Alydar and Affirmed races. I was at the Belmont when Affirmed and Slew won the triple crown.

I wish them luck, and remember me with a signed photo of Exaggerator.

[malaise]

7. Congrats

I picked him for the Derby - not because I had any expertise but because his name was the closest to Don the Con.

[philosslayer]

5. Well that makes it okay.

n/t

[FSogol]

8. What is Exaggerator's DU user name?

[WillowTree]

9. The horse that won the first race dropped dead walking away from the winner's circle. Look it up.