Preakness Stakes

The United States racing circuit features three main events, known collectively as the ‘Triple Crown’. Baltimore’s Preakness Stakes is one of these (the others being the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes). So important is this race on the city’s annual calendar that the event has now become the culmination of a week or more of festivities which make up Preakness Celebration in May each year. Events include hot air ascensions, block parties, parades, fun runs and a sailpast of tall ships. The actual race is the grand finale, when top three-year-old thoroughbreds compete for a million-dollar prize.