For a sixth straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend, May 20 and 21, at the historic Pimlico Race Course.
The blockbuster weekend includes a total of 16 stakes, 10 graded stakes, worth $3.8 million in purses. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.
Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three), and having a starter (one) in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes, led by the 147th Preakness Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, May 21.
Other graded events on Preakness Day are the $250,000 Dinner Party Stakes (G2), $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) on turf, the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes (G3), $150,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3), and $100,000 UAE President Cup Stakes (G1) for Arabian horses on the main track. The UAE President Cup is not part of the bonus.
Supporting Preakness undercard races are the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes for 3-year-old non-winners of a sweepstakes and $100,000 Skipat Stakes on dirt, along with the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes on the grass.
Preakness Eve, May 20, will be highlighted by the 98th running of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies. Among the supporting graded stakes are the historic $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3), $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3), and $150,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes (G3), all on dirt.
The Black-Eyed Susan undercard also includes the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going one mile and $100,000 The Very One Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs, both on the turf.
Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen was the leading Preakness weekend stakes trainer in 2018 and 2019, followed by Brad Cox in 2019 and Mike Maker in 2020. Asmussen edged Maker for the top spot again in 2021.
There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth, and $1,000 to sixth.
Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 10. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Marie Kizenko at marie.kizenko@marylandracing.com; call 410-542-9400 or 800-638-1859; or fax 410-542-1221.
Entries will be taken Sunday, May 15 for the entire Black-Eyed Susan Day program, with post positions drawn for all undercard stakes. The Black-Eyed Susan will be drawn Monday, May 16, when entries are taken and post positions drawn for the Preakness Day program.
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