The history of the Preakness ahead of the 150th race

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Pimlico Race Course opened its doors for the very first time in 1870.

It was a race known as the Dinner Party Stakes where a horse called Preakness took the win, later becoming the namesake of the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

The inaugural Preakness race in 1873 put Pimlico on the national thoroughbred map.

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It was in 1938 when the track perhaps saw one of the most iconic events in horse racing history as Seabiscuit triumphed over War Admiral.

"Probably what many people consider the greatest race of all time simply because at the time this all occurred it was 1938, it was during the depression, WWII, and it was just an event that seemed to take everybody's minds off what was going on in the world and to just enjoy an incredible sporting event which was this great race," said Alan Foreman, Chairman of the National Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations.

In 1940, the first Preakness winner received the now iconic floral blanket made of the state flower the Black Eyed Susan.

In 1973, Secretariat, considered one of the greatest racehorses of all time, became the ninth Triple Crown winner.

More recently in 2015, American Pharoah raced to victory as the 12th winner of the Triple Crown.

"American Pharoah ended a 37 year drought. We thought it was just too demanding and that another horse could not possibly win the Triple Crown," Foreman said.

There was another Triple Crown winner in 2018, under the tutelage of legendary trainer Bob Baffert. His horse Justify won by half a length.

The winners are always presented with the Woodlawn Vase.

"The most valuable trophy in all of sport, appraised by Tiffany as priceless, but worth an excess of $4 million," Foreman said. "What you cannot replace is the rich history, and there is not a trophy in the sport that stands up to the Woodlawn Vase and it's something very special to Pimlico and the Preakness."

As the race has grown, so has the purse, which now sits at $2 million dollars, a far cry from the first Preakness purse of $2,050.

Now, even more changes are in store following the 150th running of the Preakness.

"It will cement horse racing here at Pimlico and in the state for the next thirty years," Foreman said.

A $14.3 million dollar contract has been approved to demolish and rebuild the course, making Pimlico a year-round economic hub for the Park Heights neighborhood. Foreman said its been a long time coming.

"This will be a real shot in the arm. I think it will invigorate the industry. This facility that will be built here combined with the training center will be a tremendous attraction to horse owners and horse trainers throughout the country who will want to bring their horses to Maryland and race here as part of Maryland racing," he said.

While the 2026 Preakness will be held at Laurel Park, it will return back to its roots at Pimlico in 2027.

"It's a great day of racing. It's a lot of fun for people. It's a time to celebrate Maryland racing, the city of Baltimore, and it's a right of Spring," Foreman said.