The short answer
The 152nd Preakness Stakes will be run on Sunday 23 May 2027 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, 22 days after the Kentucky Derby. It is the first time any Triple Crown race has been scheduled on a Sunday, and the Preakness returns to Pimlico after a one-year stop at Laurel Park while the track is rebuilt. You can bet it through the usual pari-mutuel routes: at the track, at a simulcast venue or through a licensed ADW account where your state allows it.
Why the Preakness moved to a Sunday
Since 1950 the Preakness had run on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the Derby, with the exception of 2020, when the pandemic pushed it to October. On 5 August 2026 the Maryland Jockey Club announced the move, at a press conference with Governor Wes Moore. It gave two reasons:
- An extra week between the Derby and the Preakness. Trainers now space races further apart, and in the past two years the connections of a healthy Derby winner skipped the Preakness to wait for the Belmont. A three-week gap is meant to bring more Derby horses to Baltimore.
- A Memorial Day weekend festival. From 2028 the Sunday date falls on Memorial Day weekend, creating a two-day racing event for the city.
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, traditionally run the day before, moves with it to Saturday 22 May 2027. The Maryland Jockey Club also extended its deal with NBC Sports, so the Preakness stays on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
Searching “why is the Preakness leaving Baltimore”? It isn’t. The 2026 race was run at Laurel Park because Pimlico was being demolished and rebuilt; the race returns to Baltimore in 2027.
Pimlico in 2027: a limited-capacity return
Demolition of the old Pimlico began in July 2025, and the 2027 Preakness will be run while construction finishes. The clubhouse will not be ready, and fans will be mostly on the infield. Track officials have given a soft estimate of around 20,000 spectators, far below the record crowd of 140,237 in 2017. Officials expect the full rebuild to be complete by spring 2028.
The 2027 Triple Crown calendar
| Race | Date | Track |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | Saturday 1 May 2027 | Churchill Downs |
| Preakness Stakes | Sunday 23 May 2027 | Pimlico |
| Belmont Stakes | Saturday 5 June 2027 | Belmont Park |
The new schedule tightens the end of the series: the Belmont now comes just 13 days after the Preakness, instead of three weeks.
Distance, purse and conditions
The Preakness is run over 1³⁄₁₆ miles on dirt, the distance since 1925, for three-year-olds. The purse was $2 million in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with $1.2 million to the winner. The 2027 purse has not been announced yet.
How to bet the Preakness
Preakness bets go into pari-mutuel pools, so your payout depends on how everyone else bets and the odds move until the start. The legal routes are the same as for the Derby: at the track, at an off-track or simulcast venue, or through an ADW account licensed in the state you are in. See our guide to betting legally for how to check your state, and the bet types guide for exactas, trifectas and superfectas.
The Preakness card is one of the year’s biggest betting days. The 14-race card in 2026 drew $108.7 million, despite a crowd capped at 4,800 at Laurel Park; the record is $112.5 million, set in 2021.
The 2026 Preakness result
Napoleon Solo won the 151st Preakness at Laurel Park on 16 May 2026, under Paco Lopez for trainer Chad Summers, in 1:58.69. Iron Honor was second and Chip Honcho third.
| Ticket | Combination | Stake | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 10 (Napoleon Solo) | $2 | $17.80 |
| Exacta | 10-9 | $2 | $107.20 |
| Trifecta | 10-9-6 | $1 | $597.10 |
| Superfecta | 10-9-6-2 | $1 | $2,377.80 |
Recent Preakness winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Napoleon Solo | Paco Lopez | Chad Summers | Laurel Park |
| 2025 | Journalism | Umberto Rispoli | Michael McCarthy | Pimlico |
| 2024 | Seize the Grey | Jaime Torres | D. Wayne Lukas | Pimlico |
| 2023 | National Treasure | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Pimlico |
| 2022 | Early Voting | José Ortiz | Chad Brown | Pimlico |
Preakness questions
When is the 2027 Preakness Stakes?
Sunday 23 May 2027 at Pimlico in Baltimore. It is the first Triple Crown race ever scheduled on a Sunday.
Why did the Preakness move to a Sunday?
The Maryland Jockey Club wanted three weeks between the Derby and the Preakness to attract more Derby runners, plus a Memorial Day weekend racing festival from 2028.
Is the Preakness leaving Baltimore?
No. The 2026 race was at Laurel Park while Pimlico was rebuilt. The Preakness returns to Pimlico in 2027 with reduced capacity, and full completion is expected in spring 2028.
When is the Black-Eyed Susan in 2027?
Saturday 22 May 2027, the day before the Preakness.
What channel is the Preakness on?
NBC and Peacock. The deal has been extended through 2032.
Who won the 2026 Preakness?
Napoleon Solo, ridden by Paco Lopez and trained by Chad Summers, at Laurel Park. He paid $17.80 for a $2 win ticket.
Sources
- BloodHorse via TrueNicks: Preakness date moves to the fourth Sunday of May
- The Racing Biz: Preakness to move to Sunday, three weeks after the Derby
- NBC Washington: Preakness Stakes new date for 2027
- WMAR: Pimlico transformation on track for 2027 Preakness
- WTOP / AP: Preakness date for 2027
- America's Best Racing: the 2026 Preakness by the numbers
- Covers: 2026 Preakness payouts
- BloodHorse via TrueNicks: 2026 Preakness handle