Horse Racing Preakness Stakes Winners in Horse Country May 15, 2026 The G1 Preakness Stakes is the famed middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The race takes place two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, on the third Saturday in May, and is held in Maryland. This year, the race will be held at Laurel Park for the first time, as its home at Pimlico Racecourse is currently under construction. The Preakness Stakes is the second oldest of the Triple Crown races, and was first held in 1873. The race is named for the colt who won the first Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico, the day the racecourse opened in 1870. The flower blanket for the winning horse pays homage to the Black Eyed Susan, the state flower of Maryland, but due to the fact that the race takes place two months before the flowers come into bloom, viking poms that bear a resemblance to Black Eyed Susans, are used instead. The winning connections receive a replica of the Woodlawn Vase, which is the most expensive trophy in all of sports, worth approximately $4 million. Made of solid sterling silver, the trophy has a rich history that includes being buried for safekeeping so it was not melted to be used for bullets during the Civil War. The original Vase is used for the winner’s circle presentation before returning to its home at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Let’s take a look back at some of the recent winners of this historic race. Each of these horses resides at a farm of a Horse Country touring partner, which means you could meet each of these champions! 2024 – Seize the Grey Seize the Grey became the final Triple Crown race winner for the legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas, who passed away in 2025, trained the son of Arrogate to a victory in the 2024 Preakness Stakes. Seize the Grey is owned by MyRacehorse, a leader in micro-share syndication of racehorses, allowing thousands of fans to take part in the exciting journey of a horse’s racing career. Seize the Grey is now standing as a stallion at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born and raised at Mill Ridge Farm, where his mother, Smart Shopping, still resides. 2023 – National Treasure National Treasure picked up his first top level victory in the 2023 Preakness Stakes. The Bob Baffert-trainee fought tenaciously to nip Blazing Sevens at the wire and win the middle jewel of the Triple Crown by a head. Stonestreet Farm is among the ownership group who campaigned National Treasure on the track! National Treasure now resides at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he is a breeding stallion. His sire, Quality Road, stands stud at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. 2022 – Early Voting Early Voting was bred and raised at Three Chimneys Farm, where his sire Gun Runner stands at stud. The colt sat just off of the pace in the Preakness Stakes, taking control in the stretch to win by over a length. Early Voting was piloted to victory by jockey Jose Ortiz, who won this year’s Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo. Early Voting is now a stallion at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, which offers tours daily. 2018 – Justify Just a few years off of the Triple Crown triumph of American Pharoah, the undefeated Justify followed in the hoofprints of his future stablemate in becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner. Owned by Horse Country member WinStar Farm in partnership with China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC and Starlight Racing, Justify strode to a half-length victory under jockey Mike Smith. Justify now stands stud at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. 2009 – Rachel Alexandra Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra took on the colts and went wire to wire to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. She would go on to become one of the most famous racemares of all time – winning multiple grade one races including the G1 Woodward against older males as a three year old filly during her storied career. Rachel Alexandra is now enjoying retirement at her home, Stonestreet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. She is typically featured on public tours of the farm, or you can get tickets for a Rachel Alexandra Meet & Greet, offered on select Saturdays. Experience the history of the Preakness Stakes, right here in Horse Country, by meeting some of the past champions who wore the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans. Tours are offered of these top horse farms, and more, on a regular basis.
