The 150th Preakness Stakes – the last to be run in front of the historic Pimlico Race Course grandstand in Baltimore, Md. – helped generate near-record wagering of $110,043,794 on the 14-race card on Saturday, May 17. The pari-mutuel handle on the day was the second highest in the race’s history and up 11.3 percent from the $98,858,918 bet on last year’s Preakness Stakes program.
The all-time high Preakness day handle of $112,504,509 was set in 2021 – the year after COVID forced the three Triple Crown tracks to delay their races and stage them in front of empty grandstands. It was also the year controversy dogged trainer Bob Baffert and his horse Medina Spirit, who finished first in the Kentucky Derby but tested positive for a drug prohibited on race day.
