Preakness Stakes Rescheduled For October 3 Amid COVID-19 Concerns

• The Preakness Stakes revealed their official new date for the event on Saturday during an NBC Network special.
• The Triple Crown race has been taking place since 1873 in the city of Baltimore.
• Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was part of the announcement as the Preakness Stakes is a huge part of the state’s historical makeup.

BALTIMORE – The Preakness Stakes, will officially be postponed to October 3, 2020, due to COVID-19 precautions. The announcement was made on Saturday during an NBC Network special program that highlighted the 2015 Preakness where American Pharoah galloped to greatn+ess during a rainstorm.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Stronach Group Chairman and President Belinda Stronach were in attendance to jointly reveal when horse racing fans can expect to see the 2020 Preakness Stakes.

Previous Decisions

Back in March, the postponement of the Preakness Stakes was announced shortly after the Kentucky Derby decided to reschedule their race dates because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Kentucky Derby changed their event from a May 2 run to September 5.

Preakness released a statement in April discussing talks of a new date not having yet set one. The race would have been held over the weekend of May 16 had it not been canceled.

It was rumored that the new date would be on October 3 but the Maryland Jockey Club was quick to refute those rumors originally.

Though the event is now months away from its normal date, horse racing bettors and horse enthusiasts can take solace in the fact that it will occur after the Kentucky Derby. This means the possibility for a Triple Crown Winner in 2020 still exists.

The 2020 Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes may be less commonly known to the non-horse racing lover but it’s very much up there in status among other top races like that of the Kentucky Derby. After all, it is part of the Triple Crown and is considered the “second jewel” of that crown.

This second leg of the Triple Crown is a 9.5 furlough race in the dirt or the mud if it’s been raining, which those familiar with horse racing betting know can greatly affect the event. The race is held at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and it traditionally occurs two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.

News tags: 2020 Preakness Stakes | Coronavirus | Kentucky Derby | Larry Hogan | Maryland Jockey Club | Pimlico Race Course | Preakness 145 | Preakness Stakes | The Stronach Group | Triple Crown