By Miriam Lee
When is the Preakness Stakes 2020?
Swiss Skydiver – Courtesy of Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.
The Preakness Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old Thoroughbreds at Preakness Park run on the third Saturday in May. This year, the race will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3rd.
Preakness Stakes History
Throughout history, seven African American riders have had Preakness mounts, including two winners’ circle. George “Spider” Anderson won the 1889 Preakness aboard Buddhist. Willie Simms rode two Preakness runners and won aboard Sly Fox in 1998. “Pike” Barnes finished second aboad Philosophy in 1890, while the third- and fourth-place finishers in the 1896 Preakness were ridden by African Americans – Alonzo Clayto (3rd with Intermission) and Tony Hamilton (4th on Cassette).
Preakness Stakes Winners
The final two African American jockeys to ride in the Preakness so far were Wayne Barnett (Sparrowvon, 8th in 1985) and Kevin Krigger (Goldencents, 5th in 2013). Also in the entire 145-year history of the Preakness Stakes, only two people have both ridden and also saddled Preakness winners. Louis J. Schaefer won the 1929 Preakness aboard Dr. Freeland and in 1939 saddled Challedon to victory. Hall of Fame jockey John Longden duplicated the feat when he rode 1943 Preakness winner and sixth Triple Crown hero Count Fleet to victory and then as a trainer saddled Kentucky Derby winner Majestic Prince to the Preakness win in 1969.
Preakness Stakes Odds
| 1 | Excession | Sheldon Russell | 30-1 |
| 2 | Mr. Big News | Gabriel Saez | 12-1 |
| 3 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 5-2 |
| 4 | Swiss Skydiver | Robby Albarado | 6-1 |
| 5 | Thousand Words | Florent Geroux | 6-1 |
| 6 | Jesus’ Team | Jevian Toledo | 30-1 |
| 7 | NY Traffic | Horacio Karamanos | 15-1 |
| 8 | Max Player | Paco Lopez | 15-1 |
| 9 | Authentic | John Velazquez | 9-5 |
| 10 | Pneumatic | Joe Bravo | 20-1 |
| 11 | Liveyourbeastlife | Trevor Mccarthy | 30-1 |
Miriam Lee has always been a horse racing fan thanks to trips to the tracks in her home state of Maryland with her father as kid. She owns an OTTB and is an advocate for promoting the sport among her peers. Miriam studies communication arts at Hood College and will receive her master’s degree in 2021, which she plans to use for a career in screenwriting. Her all-time favorite racehorse is Man O War.