The legend and Hall of Famer Secretariat still holds the stakes (and track) record for the Preakness Stakes’s 1 3/16-mile distance when he stopped the clock in 1:53 in 1973 en route to his win in that year’s Triple Crown.
Initially, the timing of the race was questioned as the official clock malfunctioned and the timer recorded a slower final than what was recorded by clockers for the Daily Racing Form. Strangely, the dispute was not resolved for nearly 30 years until 2012, when newer technology allowed for a forensic review of the videotapes and an accurate calculation of the actual final time, which was formally recorded as 1:53.
The filly Swiss Skydiver in 2020 ran the second-fastest Preakness of all time in 1:53.28 when she defeated Kentucky Derby winner Authentic by a neck. She became just the sixth filly in history to win the Preakness.
Curlin in 2007 owns the third-fastest time in Preakness Stakes history, having logged 1:53.46 for his head victory over Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. Louis Quatorze in 1996 earned a final time of 1:53 2/5 for his wire-to-wire score to co-own the third-fastest time in Preakness Stakes history when timing wasn’t logged in hundredths.
Tank’s Prospect in 1985 also logged 1:53 2/5, Gate Dancer (1984) and Summer Squall (1990) and Rombauer (2021) all posted a time of 1:53 3/5 (the latter officially 1:53.62), and Sunday Silence was 1:53 4/5 when he defeated Belmont Stakes Easy Goer (1998) by a nose.
Fastest first quarter – :22 2/5, Flag Raiser (1965); Fight Over (1984), Eternal Prince (1985) and Vicar (1999), Warrior’s Charge (2019)
Fastest second quarter – :22 2/5, Bold Forbes (1976)
Fastest first half-mile – :45, Bold Forbes (1976)
Fastest first three-quarters – 1:09, Bold Forbes (1976)
Fastest first mile – 1:34 1/5, Secretariat (1973), Chief’s Crown (1985) and Sunday Silence (1989)
Fastest final 3/16ths – :18, Summer Squall (1990)
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
