Preakness 150: $100,000 Trainer Bonus Returns for Preakness Weekend Stakes

By David Joseph —-

$100,000 Trainer Bonus Returns for Preakness Weekend Stakes

BALTIMORE – For a ninth straight year, a total of $100,000 in bonus money is on the table for trainers that run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend, May 16 and 17, at Pimlico Race Course.

The blockbuster weekend includes a total of 16 stakes, eight graded, worth $4.35 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 150th running of the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 17.

Trainers must have a minimum of five starts to qualify for the bonus.

Other graded events on Preakness Day are the $250,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles and $150,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and older at 1 1/16 miles, each on turf, and the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, along with the $100,000 UAE President Cup (G1) for older Arabian horses on the main track. The UAE President Cup is not part of the bonus.

Supporting Preakness undercard stakes are the $150,000 Chick Lang for 3-year-olds and $125,000 Skipat for fillies and mares 3 and up, each sprinting six furlongs, and $100,000 Sir Barton going 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old non-winners of an open sweepstakes, all on dirt, along with the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds going one mile and $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at five furlongs, each on the grass.

Preakness Eve, May 16, will be highlighted by the 101st running of the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles and two supporting graded-stakes – the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs.

The Black-Eyed Susan undercard also includes the $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as well as the $125,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going one mile and $100,000 The Very One 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 four times in its first seven years, earning the top bonus in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022. In 2024, Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to take the honors. Brad Cox (2019), Mike Maker (2020) and Maryland-based Graham Motion (2023) have also won the top prize.

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.

Trainers must have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus. Brittany Russell earned the top prize in 2024.

Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 6. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at eleanor.albert@marylandracing.com or call 800-638-1859.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Sunday, May 11 for the Black-Eyed Susan Day program and Monday, May 12 for the Preakness Day program. The post-position draw for the Preakness will be held at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Md.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.