Even decades later, the legendary Secretariat's blistering 1:53 finish in the 1973 Preakness Stakes remains the benchmark for the 1 3/16-mile classic, a record etched in history during his Triple Crown-winning year. This finish mark is an attractive line on the prop bets and the Preakness Stakes odds to break each year.
Interestingly, the accuracy of that very timing was initially cast into doubt. A malfunctioning official clock presented a slower result than the one meticulously recorded by the Daily Racing Form's clockers. For nearly three decades, this discrepancy lingered unresolved. It wasn't until 2012, with the advent of advanced video analysis, that a forensic review confirmed Secretariat's remarkable speed, officially validating his 1:53 record.
While Secretariat's mark endures, the 2020 Preakness witnessed a near-historic performance by the filly Swiss Skydiver. Her impressive 1:53.28 clocking secured her a neck victory over Kentucky Derby victor Authentic and stands as the second-fastest Preakness time ever recorded. This made her only the sixth filly to conquer the Preakness Stakes.
The third-fastest time in the Preakness annals belongs to Curlin, who stopped the clock at 1:53.46 in 2007 to edge out Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense by a head. Louis Quatorze shares this distinction, whose 1996 wire-to-wire triumph was recorded in fifths of a second as 1:53 2/5, a common practice before more precise hundredths of a second timing.
Several other notable performances hover just above the 1:54 mark. Tank's Prospect (1985) also posted 1:53 2/5, while Gate Dancer (1984), Summer Squall (1990), and Rombauer (2021) all finished in 1:53 3/5 (Rombauer officially timed at 1:53.62). Sunday Silence clocked in in a memorable 1989 race at 1:53 4/5, narrowly defeating Belmont Stakes contender Easy Goer by a nose.
Ultimately, these record-setting performances and blistering fractions underscore the enduring legacy of speed and athleticism that defines the Preakness Stakes odds. From Secretariat's long-standing record to the thrilling finishes and rapid early paces, the race continues to showcase the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing, etching new chapters into its storied history with each passing year.
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.
