For a seventh straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend, May 19 and 20, at Pimlico Race Course.
The blockbuster weekend includes a total of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $3.6 million in purses. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.
Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes, led by the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 20.
Trainers must have a minimum of five starts to qualify for the bonus.
Other graded events on Preakness Day are the $200,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares on turf and the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds at six furlongs, $100,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs, and $100,000 UAE President Cup (G1) for Arabian horses on the main track. The UAE President Cup is not part of the bonus.
Supporting Preakness undercard stakes are the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-old non-winners of a sweepstakes at 1 1/16 miles, the $100,000 Skipat for fillies and mares at six furlongs, along with the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf and $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs.
Preakness Eve, May 19, will be highlighted by the 99th running of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies and two supporting graded-stakes – the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3).
The Black-Eyed Susan undercard also includes the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as well as the $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going one mile and $100,000 The Very One for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs, both on the turf.
Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has been the leading Preakness weekend stakes trainer four times in its first six years, earning the top bonus in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022. Brad Cox (2019) and Mike Maker (2020) have also won the top prize.
There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth.
Trainers must have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus.
Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 9. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at eleanor.albert@marylandracing.com; call 410-542-9400 or 800-638-1859; or fax 410-542-1221.
Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Sunday, May 14 for the Black-Eyed Susan Day program and Monday, May 15 for the Preakness Day program. The post position draw for the Preakness will be held at Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Md.
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