Preakness Stakes History

[twogunsid]

In the spring of 1873, two years before the inaugural Preakness Stakes, the folks at Pimlico were busy working on a new three-year old stakes race of their own. Pimlico, which since its opening in 1870 had conducted all of its racing in the fall, ran its first Spring Meet in the year of 1873, with the initial running of the Preakness held on May 23. The Preakness was founded by then-Maryland governor Oden Bowie. Governor Bowie's term had actually ended in 1872, yet that did not prevent him from naming the then- mile and a half race in honor of the colt who won the Dinner Party Stakes in 1870 on the occasion of Pimlico's opening. At an 1868 Saratoga party hosted by a Milton Sanford, Bowie guaranteed that Maryland would have a track available for a race that was later dubbed the Dinner Party Stakes and had been instantly promoted by Bowie at the party when he offered $15,000 as a purse--no small sum at the time.

After flourishing for almost two decades, the Maryland Jockey Club ran into tough financial times after the 1889 running. In 1890 the Preakness was run at Morris Park in New York, and in 1891, 1892, and 1893 it wasn't run at all. From 1894 to 1908 the Preakness was held at the Gravesend track in Brooklyn, New York. Although the Maryland Jockey Club held some steeplechase and trotting races at Pimlico, the Preakness did not return to its Baltimore home until 1909. It wasn't until 1948 that these fifteen "lost races" were incorporated into the official race history, with the 1890 running not added until the 1960s. Nevertheless, ever since the May 12, 1909 Preakness, won by Effendi, the Preakness has been held at Pimlico every year. It didn't take long for the Preakness to grow into a force in horse racing: in 1918 26 horses were entered, forcing the race to be run in two divisions. The next year, a colt named Sir Barton became the first Triple Crown winner. Man O'War, who skipped his one chance at the Derby, helped establish the Preakness into a "true American classic" when he romped in the 1920 edition. The place of the Preakness Stakes in the Triple Crown and American sport is firm, with the race garnering nearly a half million people in attendance over the last five years.

Like a lot of names throughout America, the name Preakness is derived from Native American culture. A northern New Jersey band of Indians called the Minisi labeled their area Pra-qua-les, meaning "quail woods." After some inventive respellings, the name evolved into Preakness. One variation of the name was Preckiness, used by General George Washington to describe where his troops were stationed during the 1776-77 winter. Milton Sanford, who we saw earlier in connection with the Dinner Party Stakes, called his farms (he had one in New Jersey and one in Kentucky) Preakness. Oddly enough, his New Jersey farm was located in the Indians' "quail woods," and there remains today a Preakness, New Jersey. Sanford, without much regard, purchased a yearling that was bred in Kentucky's Woodburn Farm, the eighth foal of a horse named Bay Leaf, for $2,000. He named it Preakness. Needless to say, it was this horse that as a three-year old went on to win the Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico's inaugural in 1870. That was the horses only race of 1870, although he did continue to race through his eight-year old season, even winning races at that age. In 1873, the Maryland Jockey Club honored him by calling its newest stakes race "Preakness," while the Dinner Party Stakes evolved into the present-day Dixie Handicap. After his eighth year of racing Sanford sent Preakness to England, where he was eventually purchased by the Duke of Hamilton. Yet like most of us, Preakness developed a temper in old age and became tough to handle. But unlike most of us, Preakness was shot and killed by his owner the Duke of Hamilton, who apparently had also grown a tad irritable. So, the legacy of Preakness is twofold: one, he supplied the name for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, and two, he touched off a reform in English law which governed the handling of animals. What a champion.

http://www.gohorsebetting.ag/preaknessstakes/history


Preakness

[twogunsid]

1. 2005 - The Stumble

In 2005, Jeremy Rose and favored Afleet Alex were making what appeared to be a steady, professional move on the outside of the leader, Scrappy T, as the Preakness field made the final turn. In the next instant, Scrappy T swerved hard to the right from the left-handed whip of Ramon Dominguez, directly into Afleet Alex's path.

Rose and his colt were unable to avoid the back heels of Scrappy T. During the next few split seconds, Afleet Alex took several stumbling steps, his knees scraping the ground, as he fought to both regain his stride and maintain his momentum. He did, and went on to a comfortable victory, leaving reporters on the scene hard-pressed to describe what they'd seen.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-5-preakness-moment-stumble-2005

[twogunsid]

2. 1971 - The Fairy Tale

There are moments among the great ones in modern Preakness history that stand out because of tremendous individual effort. This happened in 1971 when Canonero II, the mysterious colt from Venezuela, validated his shocking upset in the Kentucky Derby with a track-record victory in the Preakness. The postrace interviews with Canonero’s jockey and trainer were still difficult without translation, but whatever they said, everyone was suddenly taking them seriously.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-10-preakness-moment-fairy-tale-1971

Only known footage of 1971 Preakness

[LiberalEsto]

3. I once lived in Preakness NJ

It's part of Wayne Township.
I knew about the connection with horse racing, but not Native American origin of the word Preakness. Most people now pronounce it Preek-ness, but when I was growing up in Wayne in the 1960s, everybody pronounced Preakness Avenue and the Preakness Shopping Center as Prayk-ness. That sounds closer to the Minisi word Pra-qua-les.

[twogunsid]

4. 1980 - The Mugging

No one died, but the term "mugging" was thrown around so often after the 1980 Preakness that you'd think the race had been run in Central Park. After her victory in the Kentucky Derby, Genuine Risk was the toast of the sports world. In the Preakness, she was running her race again, at least until she ranged up alongside the Santa Anita and Hollywood Derby winner Codex, ridden by Angel Cordero.

As Codex rounded the final turn, Cordero glanced right and saw Genuine Risk and her rider, Jacinto Vasquez, coming fast. At that point Angel allowed his colt to straighten the turn and float to the right, packing the filly along for the ride. When they finally straightened for the run to the wire, Codex spurted clear. The filly pursued, but the race was over. Almost. After the Pimlico stewards dismissed a claim of foul from Vasquez and declared the race official, the issue ended up in front of the Maryland Racing Commission.

On June 4, 18 days after the race was run, the commission ruled the victory of Codex would stand.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-2-preakness-moment-mugging-1980

[twogunsid]

5. 1962 - The Rumble

A rivalry of a different sort spiced the 1962 Preakness, won by Greek Money by a nose over the massive, favored Ridan. John Rotz rode Greek Money, and to this day he thinks Ridan's flamboyant rider, Manuel Ycaza, was channeling past encounters when he reached over with an elbow, deep in the stretch.

"We’d crossed paths a few times in big races, when I got the better of Ycaza," Rotz recalled. "I can’t imagine what he was thinking, though. If he'd just ridden his own horse I think he would have won."

To make matters worse -- or at least more humorous -- Ycaza claimed foul against Rotz. Later, when confronted with the patrol film, Ycaza insisted he lost his balance. The story must have helped, since Manny only served 10 days.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-6-preakness-moment-rumble-1962

[twogunsid]

6. 1873 - Survivor

The first Preakness, held on May 27, 1873, drew seven starters. John Chamberlain's three-year-old, Survivor, collected the $2,050 winning purse by galloping home easily by 10 lengths. This was the largest margin of victory until 2004, when Smarty Jones won by 11 1/2 lengths.

http://blackjockeys.org/preakness.php

[twogunsid]

7. 2006 - The Tragedy

Barbaro, the undefeated Kentucky Derby winner, was odds-on to add the Preakness and continue his march toward the 2006 Triple Crown. He was on edge and ready to rumble, even popping the front doors of the starting gate before the race began. Reloaded, Barbaro was away in a bit of a tangle and had barely run a hundred yards before fracturing three bones in his right hind leg.

In a heartbeat, the race itself was rendered almost inconsequential. The injured Barbaro was held as quietly as possible on the outside rail, literally within reach of fans, as Bernardini raced to a 5 1/4-length victory.

All of the postrace attention was focused on the wounded Derby winner, and for the next eight months his desperate struggle to rebound from complicated surgery was the most significant horse racing story.

Barbaro finally was euthanized in January 2007.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-4-preakness-moment-tragedy-2006

[twogunsid]

8. 1997 - The Thriller

Not all great individual efforts get their colors painted on the infield cupola weather vane. There is a basic unfairness in describing a horse who has just run a lights-out race as a loser, especially when that loss can be measured in inches. No one ever said horse racing is fair.

In 1997, a bumper year for 3-year-olds, the Preakness gathered the first three finishers from the Kentucky Derby, shook them up, and rolled a perfect three-way photo. Derby winner Silver Charm got there first, with Free House second and Captain Bodgit third. The margins were a head, and a head, which made it the closest, most crowded finish in the history of the classic.

"It was a privilege just to be in a race like that," said Bob Lewis, who owned Silver Charm.

Sometimes, though, it is a blessing just to survive, and the most memorable moments occur someplace other than the finish line.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-8-preakness-moment-thriller-1997

[twogunsid]

9. 1978 - The Duel

Affirmed and Alydar arrived at Pimlico in 1978 more familiar to each other than Burns and Allen. They'd already met seven times, six as 2-year-olds and then in the Kentucky Derby, where Affirmed defeated Alydar for the fourth time. But like old age and taxes, Alydar just kept coming, and there was even a moment midway in the Pimlico stretch when it looked as if it might be Alydar’s day. Still, Affirmed won by a neck.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-7-preakness-moment-duel-1978

[twogunsid]

10. 1989 - The Duel II

Talk was cheap and plentiful during the early months of 1989. In New York, Easy Goer was making good on his promise as a 2-yearold champion with fast, fluid wins in the Swale, the Gotham, and the Wood Memorial. At the same time, out West, Sunday Silence had emerged as the colt of choice, burying rivals in the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. When they finally met in the Kentucky Derby, Sunday Silence beat Easy Goer by 2 1/2 lengths, but the track was a muddy mess, and no one east of the Appalachians was convinced the right horse won.

"Sunday Silence may well turn out to be the best colt in the land," wrote Steven Crist – now editor and publisher emeritus of the Daily Racing Form – in the New York Times. "But few will believe that until he beats Easy Goer again."

So he did, two weeks later, in a Preakness that still gets fans squabbling over drinks. Sunday Silence moved first, Easy Goer jumped him on the turn, then Sunday Silence came out and around and swept past Easy Goer heading into the Pimlico stretch. Cheek to cheek, they clawed at each other until the wire mercifully arrived, with Sunday Silence a nose in front.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-9-preakness-moment-duel-ii-1989

[twogunsid]

11. 1973 - The Move

In the wake of Secretariat’s victory in 1973, the Maryland Racing Commission had to deal with hard evidence that the official time of 1:55 flat posted by the track was incorrect, and that Big Red had actually run the 1 3/16 miles in 1:53.40. At least, that was the time provided by various independent clockers, including Frenchy Schwartz of the Daily Racing Form, and verified by CBS video analysis. In its wisdom, track officials ended up accepting a time in between, depriving Secretariat of a Preakness and Pimlico record.

Like he cared. Secretariat’s time for the '73 Preakness was, as far as his legacy is concerned, meaningless. It was what he did around the clubhouse turn of the race that will live forever.

Going past the stands the first time, Secretariat was taking his usual early stroll, a big guy getting his act together. Ron Turcotte, approaching the first turn and sensing a modest pace, gave Secretariat the cue to pass a couple of horses, then a couple more -- all around the bend going at straightaway speed -- until they reached the backstretch on the verge of taking the outright lead.

From there Big Red never looked back.

http://www.drf.com/news/no-1-preakness-moment-move-1973

[twogunsid]

12. 1919 - A Genuine Iron Horse

Last edited Sun May 12, 2013, 08:20 PM - Edit history (1)

Sir Barton, a foal of 1916 bred by John Madden, was born too soon. He was never hailed as a Triple Crown winner because the feat had not been named when he swept the Derby,
Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1919. "Triple Crown" began appearing in print about 1936, far too late for Sir Barton.

Commander J. K. L. Ross, who owned a farm in Maryland where the former Freestate harness track was located, purchased Sir Barton for $10,000 as a 2-year-old at Saratoga. Ross had an outstanding 3-year-old prospect in 1919 - Billy Kelly - but Sir Barton, his stablemate, who had never won a race, was started in the Derby as part of the Ross entry.

Sir Barton broke on top in the Derby and never looked back. Perhaps more amazing, Sir Barton was immediately shipped to Pimlico because that year the Maryland classic was run on Wednesday, just four days after the Derby. Once again the unheralded Sir Barton galloped home by four lengths in a display of stamina.

http://www.preakness-stakes.info/triplecrown.php


Sir Barton
Chestnut colt, 1916 by *Star Shoot-Lady Sterling, by Hanover
J. K. L. Ross, Owner
Madden and Gooch, Breeder
H. Guy Bedwell, Trainer

[twogunsid]

13. 1950 - No Middleground

Meadow Stable's Hill Prince, ridden by Eddie Arcaro in the Kentucky Derby, finished second to Middleground. A week after his defeat in the Derby, Hill Prince convincingly reversed the form with Middleground when beating the Derby winner by one and a half lengths in the Withers Stakes at Belmont.[9] Following this victory, Hill Prince started favorite for the Preakness Stakes and recorded a decisive win over Middleground, drawing away in the straight to win by five lengths from the "Texas Terror" in front of a 30,000 crowd.[10] Shortly after his win in the Preakness, Hill Prince was matched against older horses in the Suburban Handicap and finished third to Loser Weeper, having reportedly bled from his nostrils at the finish

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2290&dat=19500521&id=5QFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IyENAAAAIBAJ&pg=2729,3734701