Preakness 149: MJC ‘Encouraged’ By Horsemen Response to Preakness Weekend

By David Joseph—–

MJC ‘Encouraged’ By Horsemen Response to Preakness Weekend

15 Stakes, Eight Graded, Worth $4.3 Million in Purses May 17 & 18

Qualifiers for G1 Stakes at Newmarket & Deauville, Trainer Bonuses

BALTIMORE – An action-packed weekend of racing is shaping up at historic Pimlico Race Course, where horsemen from around the country continue to make nominations for a blockbuster program of 15 stakes worth $4.3 million in purses May 17 and 18.

In addition to purse money, a $7.5 million 1/ST Racing owner bonus program linking races at Pimlico, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, as well as qualifiers for a pair of European Group 1 races and $150,000 in trainer bonuses are also available to horsemen over Preakness weekend.

Among the trainers that have made nominations are Hall of Famers Steve Asmussen, D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher, along with Christophe Clement, Brad Cox, Phil D’Amato, Peter Eurton, Saffie Joseph Jr., Mike Maker and Graham Motion. Nominations close at the end of the day Tuesday.

“We are encouraged by the response from horsemen to all of our stakes on Preakness weekend,” Maryland Jockey Club Racing Secretary Jillian Tullock said. “We are also proud to be the starting point of what promises to be an exciting and competitive series of races around the country.”

A $5 million bonus awaits the owner or owners of the horse that wins the $2 million Preakness (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 18 at Pimlico; $1 million California Crown (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita and $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January 2025 at Gulfstream Park.

Meanwhile, a $2.5 million bonus awaits the owner or owners of the horse that wins Pimlico’s $500,000 Dinner Party (G3) May 18, Santa Anita’s $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf (G2) Sept. 28 and Gulfstream’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) next January.

Pimlico’s $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up, which already had more than 40 nominations early Tuesday, will afford its May 18 winner an automatic entry and travel incentive to run in the My Pension Export July Cup (G1) July 13 at Newmarket.

The $100,000 Gallorette for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass will see it winner earn an automatic entry and travel incentive to run in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) Aug. 18 at Deauville. The Gallorette is also part of the Preakness undercard.

For the eighth straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the stakes races during Preakness weekend, and another $50,000 bonus for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during the weekend.

Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and can be made by emailing stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at Eleanor.Albert@marylandracing.com or calling 800-638-1859.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for all Preakness Day stakes on Monday, May 13.

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 and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary 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 XBTV. 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, please email david.joseph@marylandracing.com. visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.