Here’s the latest news on the 2026 Preakness Stakes.
- Date and location: The 151st Preakness Stakes was held on May 16, 2026, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, due to Pimlico Race Course undergoing renovations. This is a historic move as the race traditionally runs at Pimlico.[1][6]
- Notable horse news: The Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo did not run in the Preakness, opening the field for other contenders.[4][1]
- Likely contenders and odds: Crude Velocity entered as a strong favorite in the wake of Golden Tempo’s withdrawal, with other listed contenders including Iron Honor, Ocelli, Taj Mahal, Great White, and Silent Tactic among potential runners as reported in late May 2026 coverage.[5][8][4]
- Morning-line and post positions: Early reports indicated Iron Honor as the morning-line favorite with favorable post position, though official post positions and final odds were updated closer to race day.[9][10]
- Welfare and safety: Preakness organizers announced ongoing digitization of equine welfare and health protocols in partnership with Equine MediRecord and Business Infusions, continuing the event’s emphasis on horse welfare during the relocation to Laurel Park.[2]
Illustration of context:
- The move from Pimlico to Laurel Park is a rare but planned change tied to a multi-year redevelopment project at Pimlico, affecting logistics, scheduling, and fan access this year.[10][1]
If you’d like, I can pull the official final post positions, complete field, and final odds as of race day and summarize the results. Please tell me whether you want a quick snapshot or a detailed breakdown with runtimes and margins.
Citations:
- Preakness at Laurel Park; Golden Tempo withdrawal[1]
- Preakness welfare protocols[2]
- 2026 race updates and contenders[8][4][5]
- Post positions and odds context[9][10]
- General background on Preakness at Pimlico/Laurel Park relocation[6][10]
Sources
The second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes is for 3-year-olds and is held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course. The race is contested at a distance of 1 3/16 miles on the dirt. Top 3-year-old colts contest the race annually, and on five occasions the Preakness has been captured by a filly: Flocarline (1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915), Nellie Morse (1924) and Rachel Alexandra (2009).
www.americasbestracing.netJody Demling, who has called the last three Preakness winners, reveals his 2026 Preakness Stakes picks with Golden Tempo not running
www.cbssports.comPreakness Stakes 2026 update (5-5-26). The 151st Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
therunawayhorse.comLaurel, MD (May 12th, 2026) – 1/ST has announced they will again be partnering with Irish technology company, Equine MediRecord (EMR) and their group Business Infusions (BI) to digitize equine welfare protocols for Preakness 151. This added measure will enhance the stringent equine health and safety protocols that will be in place for the race […] … Baltimore, MD (May 1th, 2025) – 1/ST has announced they will again be partnering with Irish technology company, Equine MediRecord (EMR) and their...
www.preakness.comMorning line favorite Iron Honor will be in the No. 9 starting gate.
www.nbcsports.comThe 151st running of the Preakness Stakes will take place on Saturday, May 16, from Laurel Park amid ongoing renovations at Pimlico Race Course, the normal home of the annual race.
bleacherreport.com