--- title: What is the Preakness Stakes? Horse racing and California Chrome description: Everything you need to know canonical: https://time.com/101833/the-preakness-stakes-california-chrome/ author: Eliana Dockterman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-17T12:00:05.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:08:23.002Z article:section: Sports og:title: What is the Preakness Stakes? Horse racing and California Chrome og:description: Everything you need to know og:url: https://time.com/101833/the-preakness-stakes-california-chrome/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7eb3cb8ecc8e7f96/69868fc035ba6f308ac02098/490568239.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Preakness workouts og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What is the Preakness Stakes? Horse racing and California Chrome twitter:description: Everything you need to know twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7eb3cb8ecc8e7f96/69868fc035ba6f308ac02098/490568239.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Here's What You Need to Know About the Preakness Stakes > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Ally. Ally is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Ally: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Ally is a digital financial services company offering online-only banking, including checking and savings accounts, through Ally.com and its mobile apps. Launched in 2009 as an original disruptor in financial services, Ally was built to challenge outdated banking norms with a simpler, more convenient way to bank. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent May 17, 2014 12:00 PM UTC  Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, with exercise rider Willie Delgado up, during a morning workout at Pimlico Race Course in preparation for the 139th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, with exercise rider Willie Delgado up, during a morning workout at Pimlico Race Course in preparation for the 139th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Wednesday, May 14, 2014.Baltimore Sun—MCT via Getty Images  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent May 17, 2014 12:00 PM UTC The Preakness Stakes, one of horse racing’s premier events, gets underway Saturday. Here’s what you need to know. **What is the Preakness Stakes?** It’s the second of the three Triple Crown Races—along with the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. If a horse wins all three races, it wins the Triple Crown. (Only 11 horses have ever swept all three races, and no horse has done it since 1978.) The race is held on the third Saturday in May every year at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. This year is the 139th running of the Preakness. It will begin at 6:18 p.m. E.T. Everyone will sing a song called [“Maryland, My Maryland”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WGHZ6doY7o) before the race begins. The winner gets $1.5 million. **Why isn’t it as famous as the Kentucky Derby?** The Preakness Stakes has a case of middle-child syndrome. It’s stuck between the Derby and the Belmont Stakes. If you’re a casual fan, you’ll only care about what horse is going to win the Triple Crown: Which horse is in contention to do so is determined at the Kentucky Derby, and the horse is only actually crowned at the Belmont Stakes. Thus, the Preakness is slightly less exciting. Plus, the Derby gets to flaunt the whole southern Kentucky thing with its Mint Juleps and big hats. Baltimore doesn’t have that same pageantry. (Though if you get tickets to watch from the Infield it’s apparently [“one big, sweaty frat party.”](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-guide/wp/2014/05/13/a-guide-to-attending-the-139th-preakness/) So there’s that.) **Do all of the horses that run in the Derby run in the Preakness?** No. Most years, the Preakness will attract the Kentucky Derby winner (for the chance to win the Triple Crown), as well as some of the other horses that ran in the Derby. But it often also brings in horses that didn’t run the derby. The Preakness has a 14-horse limit. This year, the Preakness is fielding 10 horses. Only three of those ran in the Derby: California Chrome, Ride On Curlin and General A Rod.  the finish line to win the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. Patrick Smith—Getty Images **Can I drink Mint Juleps during the Preakness?** You can. But the traditional race drink is the Black-Eyed Susan (pictured above). It’s a mixture of vodka, light rum, Cointreau, pineapple juice and orange juice. Shake. Pour over crushed ice. Add a lime as a garnish ([if you can get your hands on one](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lime-shortage-blamed-on-crop-shortage-and-drug-cartel-1.2642614)). **How does the race work?** The horses line up at their pre-determined posts. The posts are decided by drawing small numbered balls in a blind draw the Wednesday before the race. When the gun goes off, the horses take off. The race is 1 and 3/16 miles, a furlong shorter than the Derby. **What’s with California Chrome?** California Chrome is the heavy favorite to win the Preakness Stakes, if he races. He won the Kentucky Derby and is on a five-race winning streak. He drew the No. 3 post position for the Preakness—an inside post, which his Preakness trainer [says he likes](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20140514/preakness-stakes-post-positions-california-chrome.ap/). If he wins this race, he’s one step closer to winning the Triple Crown. There were rumors that the horse was sick leading up to Saturday’s race. California Chrome has a blister in his throat that is causing him to cough and has been since before the Derby. It’s being treated with glycerin and water and, according to the Sherman Racing Stables [Twitter feed](https://twitter.com/BH%5FCNovak/status/466964811684012032), isn’t a big deal. Here’s California Chrome winning the Kentucky Derby: **Who is the favorite?** The odds are [constantly updated](http://www.preakness.com/race-info). As of Thursday, California Chrome was so favored so heavily that the line was 3-5. **Is there is a female jockey competing?** Yes! This year will be the first time in the history of the race that a female horse (Ria Antonia), a female jockey (Rosie Napravnik) and a female trainer (Linda Rice) will all compete at the same time. No female jockey or trainer has ever won the Preakness, but five female horses have. **Is Lorde performing at the Preakness?**  INDIO, CA - APRIL 12: Lorde performs as part of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at The Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2014 in Indio, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage) Tim Mosenfelder—WireImage Why, yes she is. Leading up to the actual race, Lorde, Nas, Switchfoot, Frank Walker, Glenn Morrison, Eli Young Band, Sundy Best and Go Go Gadjet will all perform. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/101833/the-preakness-stakes-california-chrome/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/101833/the-preakness-stakes-california-chrome/"},"headline":"Here's What You Need to Know About the Preakness Stakes","datePublished":"2014-05-17T12:00:05.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:08:23.002Z","description":"The second of the three Triple Crown races begins at 6:18pm ET on Saturday, and the Kentucky Derby winner is bookmakers' favorite to cross the finish line first. 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