Preakness Stakes - Winning The Race

Winning The Race

In 1917, the first Woodlawn Vase was awarded to the Preakness winner, who was not allowed to keep it. Eventually a half-size reproduction of the trophy was given to winners to keep permanently. The original trophy is kept at the Baltimore Museum of Art and brought to the race each year under guard, for the winner's presentation ceremony.

In 1940, it was proposed to drape the winning horse in a garland of black-eyed Susans, the state flower of Maryland. This posed a problem, as the race is run nearly two months before the flowers come into bloom in late June or July. At first, yellow daisies were painted to resemble black-eyed Susans; workers switched to chrysanthemums later. Although the Preakness is sometimes referred to as "the race for the black-eyed Susans", no black-eyed Susan is ever used.

In 1918, 26 horses entered the race, and it was run in two divisions, providing for two winners that year. Currently, the race is limited to 14 horses.

In 1948, the Preakness was televised for the first time by CBS.

The Preakness has been run at seven different distances:

• 1½ miles (2.41 km) : 1873–1888, 1890
• 1¼ miles (2.01 km) : 1889
• 1-1/16 miles (1.71 km) : 1894–1900, 1908
• 1 mile 70 yards (1.67 km) : 1901–1907
• 1 mile (1.61 km) : 1909, 1910
• 1⅛ miles (1.81 km) : 1911–1924
• 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) : 1925–present