Preakness Stakes 2017: Events schedule
Here’s the full schedule of events for Preakness Week at Pimlico, leading up to the main event on Saturday evening.
All eyes will be on Always Dreaming this Saturday evening in the 2017 Preakness Stakes, but Pimlico Race Course is set to host a number of events in the week leading up to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Always Dreaming cruised to a three-length victory on a sloppy track in the Kentucky Derby back on May 6 to take the first leg of the 2017 Triple Crown. As expected, the Derby champion opens as the Preakness favorite at 10-11, with runner up Lookin at Lee and fourth-place finisher Classic Empire also in the mix.
Contenders in the 10-horse field have already arrived in Baltimore, and morning workouts open to the public begin on Tuesday of Preakness week and run through Friday. Preakness post position draw is set for Wednesday morning after the workouts, with the exact time yet to be announced.
On Thursday morning, fans can attend the Preakness Alibi Breakfast at the Pimlico Clubhouse, with tickets costing $50. The annual event dates back to the 1930s and features top trainers, jockeys and owners giving insight into the race and taking questions from fans.
Friday’s schedule is headlined by the running of the 93rd Black-Eyed Susan, with post time set for 4:50 p.m. Eastern. The Grade II event for three-year-old fillies is the most prestigious race of the week after the Preakness and features a $250,000 purse.
Finally, the running of the 2017 Preakness Stakes is set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern on Saturday evening at Pimlico. The 9.5 furlong race dates all the way back to 1873 and features a purse of $1.5 million, and is expected to draw over 130,000 fans.
Pimlico will host 14 races on both Friday and Saturday, including multiple graded stakes on the undercard slate. The full schedule for 2017 Preakness Stakes week is below:
Tuesday, May 16
Preakness contenders’ morning workouts: 6-9 a.m. ET
Wednesday, May 17
Preakness contenders’ morning workouts: 6-9 a.m. ET
Preakness Post Position Draw
Thursday, May 18
Preakness contenders’ morning workouts: 6-9 a.m. ET
Preakness Alibi Breakfast: 9:30 a.m. ET
Friday, May 19: Black-Eyed Susan Day
Preakness contenders’ morning workouts: 6-9 a.m. ET
Undercard races begin: 11:30 a.m. ET
2017 Black-Eyed Susan: 4:50 p.m. ET
Final race of the day: 6:28 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 20: Preakness Stakes Day
Undercard races begin: 10:30 a.m. ET
2017 Preakness Stakes: 6:45 p.m. ET
Final race of the day: 7:35 p.m. ET
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After conclusion of the week’s events in Baltimore, attention will turn to the 2017 Belmont Stakes, which is set for June 10. Should Always Dreaming take the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont will become one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.