Top Preakness Stakes betting sites at a glance
Our shortlist of Preakness Stakes betting sites is curated rather than exhaustive. We compare the operators based on odds quality, horse racing coverage, promotions, and reliability. The ranking below gives you a quick comparison, with more detail on what to look for in a Preakness betting site later on this page.
Selection criteria we utilize to rate how to bet the Preakness online include odds quality, racing coverage, promotions, and reliability. You’ll be able to read full reviews of the top Preakness sites later in this guide.
How to bet on the Preakness Stakes online
When you ask how to bet on the Preakness, the process is actually quite easily accomplished in a matter of minutes. Whether you want to do your Preakness betting with one of our recommended online sportsbooks or at an off-track betting site, the path to doing so is remarkably similar. Just follow these four simple steps.
Step 1: choose a licensed racebook
Step 2: sign up and claim your welcome offer
Step 3: deposit and navigate to horse racing
Step 4: find the Preakness Stakes and place your bet
The first move you will need to make is to locate a licensed racebook at which you will be making your Preakness bets. Remember, the most important aspect you’ll be seeking in an online betting site is that it offers rich markets of horse racing betting lines. You’ll want to go with a site that is regulated and is certified to offer advance deposit wagering. Keep in mind that all the sites we recommend are going to meet all of these qualifications.
Once you’ve settled on the sportsbook that feels right for you and will enable you to do your Preakness Stakes betting, the next move will be to sign up and open an account with that betting site. All online betting sites will offer a welcome bonus to new players. If you sign up with a sportsbook, this welcome offer is generally delivered in bonus bets. However, should you sign up with a standalone racebook, expect to get wagering credits. These are basically coupons you can use to bet on the races.
Before you can place a Preakness bet, you’re going to be required to fund your account. Since many welcome offers are matching first deposit bonuses, you’ll want to try to deposit the maximum allowable matching amount to make the most of this opportunity. Some online betting sites may offer a standalone racebook with a separate wallet from the sportsbook. Definitely verify if this is the case before joining the site. If it’s just a sportsbook without a separate racing site, then your next step is to locate the horse racing markets in the drop-down menu.
Once you’ve determined the location for the horse racing betting markets, you’ll need to find the latest betting lines on the Preakness odds. There may be future book wagering on the Preakness winner well in advance of the race. However, as the Preakness Stakes time draws closer and the Preakness lineup and odds are revealed, this is when you can expect numerous Preakness markets to open up. You may want to wait to bet until after the post position draw to see which spot in the starting gate is assigned to the horse you want to get.
What to look for in a Preakness Stakes betting site
Betting on the Preakness Stakes offers a variety of options to horseplayers. All of the top horse racing betting sites that we recommend will provide access to a multitude of betting avenues. Along with rich markets for betting on the race, you should also expect to find lucrative bonus and promotional offerings, some of which will be specifically connected to the race. Expect the sites to be licensed by gaming regulators and to offer a strong selection of banking methods. Some sites also offer live race-day streaming from starting gate to finish line.
2027 Preakness Stakes odds and contenders
While it’s still early, as we draw closer to the race, look for the top betting sites to all post the latest Preakness odds. The Preakness horses and odds aren’t likely to be determined until the conclusion of the Kentucky Derby, as handlers of the top three-year-olds determine the next step for their horses. When they are posted, use our handy odds calculator to figure out which horses are the Preakness best bets.
| Preakness Stakes 2027 |  |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Horse 1 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 2 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 3 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 4 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 5 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 6 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 7 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 8 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 9 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Horse 10 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Last updated on: September 4, 2026
Current morning-line odds
The first thing you’ll want to do when the Preakness day draws near is to regularly monitor the current morning-line odds. The morning line provides an estimated starting price for the race. The live Preakness betting odds then adjust as wagers are placed into the pari-mutuel pools. The most significant line movement will come in the 48 hours leading up to the race. Late action can result in major swings in Preakness Stakes odds by post time.
Post position and draw breakdown
The draw for Preakness Stakes post positions will be held a few days before the race. With a much smaller field than the 20-horse Kentucky Derby, post position isn’t as vital in Preakness betting. In today’s Triple Crown racing, handlers of horses are sometimes given the option of selecting their spot in the starting gate when the names are drawn. Check out the Preakness betting trends data further down in this guide to assess historical post position performance.
Preakness futures betting
Long before the Preakness Stakes goes postward, you’ll be given the chance to lock in your bet on the horses you assess to be Preakness favorites. Futures wagering presents the opportunity to place a bet sometimes months in advance of the race. The potential benefit to this strategy is that you may get a better price than you would by wagering closer to race day. The downside is that there’s no guarantee that the horse you bet on will be entered in the Preakness.
Preakness Stakes bet types explained
All of the expected horse racing wagers will be offered in Preakness Stakes betting. The full range of parimutuel wagering is available to help you plan your Preakness betting strategy. There are straight bets on win, place, or show. As well, a variety of exotic wagers provide the chance to win big from a small stake. The following section explains how each of these bets works and what is required for each bet to cash.
Straight bets: win, place, and show
The easiest and simplest way to bet on the Preakness is with straight bets. A win wager is straightforward. You stake the horse you think will win the Preakness. If that horse wins, you win. But you need to feel confident in a horse’s chances to go this route.
Place bets give you the opportunity for two winning outcomes. Your bet cashes if the horse you back finishes first or second. A show bet is a solid play on a horse you are certain can get a piece of the board, but you’re less sure that the horse can win the Preakness. This gives you a winning ticket if that horse finishes first, second, or third. Considering there have been nine or fewer horses entered in four of the past five Preakness Stakes races, a place bet gives you two finishing positions in which the wager can cash.
Exacta, trifecta, and superfecta
Exotic bets are the horse racing version of a parlay. Bettors love to play them because for a very small stake, they are in with a chance to gain a large payout. The tradeoff is that to win an exotic bet, you need multiple outcomes to fall your way.
With an exacta, the horses you back must finish first and second in the correct order. Bet a trifecta, and it will require that you have called the top three finishers in the race in the correct order. A Superfecta bet goes one step further. You’re attempting to select the top four finishers in the race, again in correct order.
With a smaller field, Preakness horse betting on exotics won’t be as lucrative as the Kentucky Derby, which almost always goes off with a full 20-horse field.
Daily double, pick 3, pick 4, and pick 6
There are further exotic wagers that take into account the outcomes of multiple races. It’s possible that you can bet the Preakness as part of these multi-race packages. The Daily Double traditionally is a bet on the horses that will win the first and second races of a day’s card. However, tracks have added late doubles to the mix. It’s possible the Preakness could be part of a late double.
A Pick 3, Pick 4, or Pick 6 is fairly self-explanatory. You are seeking to select the winners of that many races in a row. Pick 6 selections offer carryover pools until someone hits on a Pick 6. Major race days like the Preakness Stakes often generate much larger guaranteed payouts on the Pick 6.
Quinella and matchup wagering
A quinella is similar to an exacta, except that your pair of horses can finish either first or second and your bet will cash. It differs from an exacta box in that you can only include two horses in a quinella wager.
Matchup wagering is offered by top horse racing betting sites for major races like the Preakness. It’s a head-to-head format. Two horses are paired, and each is assigned odds. You bet on which horse will record the best finish in the race.
Box bets and multi-horse combinations
Box betting is a way to increase your chances of hitting an exotic wager. You package several horses into one wager. It could be a trifecta, for instance. You pick the horses. Your stake will be multiplied by the number of potential outcomes. A $1 trifecta box of three horses will cost $6, since there are six potential outcomes.
Multi-horse combination bets cover multiple horses. It can be over one race or several races, such as a multi-horse Pick 6 combination. Similar to a box, your stake is multiplied by the number of possible outcomes.
Preakness Stakes odds explained: how horse racing odds work
Preakness Stakes odds work differently from fixed-odds sports betting because most horse racing wagers use pari-mutuel betting. Instead of locking in a fixed price when the wager is placed, bettors wager into shared pools and the final payout is determined when betting closes.
Reading fractional and pari-mutuel odds
Fractional odds show the potential profit compared with the amount wagered. For example, odds of 5/1 represent $5 in profit for every $1 staked. In pari-mutuel betting, however, the displayed odds can continue changing as money enters the pool, so the final payout is not necessarily the price displayed when you first place the wager.
How Preakness payouts differ from fixed-odds sportsbooks
With fixed-odds betting, the accepted price is normally locked when the wager is placed. In pari-mutuel betting, wagers are combined into a pool, takeout is deducted, and the remaining money is divided among winning tickets. That means a heavily backed favourite can return less as more money is placed on the same horse.
Preakness Stakes betting tips and strategy
The Preakness Stakes has distinct characteristics that set it apart from the other legs of the Triple Crown. Knowing the difference will give you, as a bettor, a genuine edge. Follow the Preakness Stakes betting tips in this practical handicapping guide, and you’ll be on your way to successful Preakness betting.
Key handicapping factors: pace, form, and distance
Pimlico Race Course, home to the Preakness, is the shortest of the Triple Crown tracks at 1 and 3/16 miles. That makes the Preakness a race that favors speed and strength. Look to horses that display powerful speed ratings.
Certainly, recent form is a key element in handicapping the Preakness. However, this can sometimes be a bit misleading. Often, the Kentucky Derby winner is staked as the Preakness favorite. But if there was an upset winner of the Derby, that might be a misleading stat.
Familiarity can also be a factor. Are there horses that are local to the Baltimore area, or that have run before at Pimlico? How many of the horses are repeat Triple Crown entries from the Derby? They’ll all be comfortable going the Preakness distance.
Jockey and trainer stats to watch
Experience is a factor that can’t be taught. In your Preakness handicapping, look for jockeys that are hardened Triple Crown veterans. Especially seek out the riders who previously rode Preakness winners. The same conditions hold for trainers. How have the conditioners in this year’s race fared in past Preakness runs?
Riders and trainers with high winning percentages are also worth a hard look in your Preakness betting strategy. A track record of winning is never a bad thing to have on your resume. Connections are also worth studying. Are there trainers and jockeys who’ve combined to win a previous Preakness?
Post position trends and bias
Speed horses and front runners tend to dominate in the Preakness Stakes. Of the past five winners of the race, four were in the top three by the halfway mark. That includes last year’s winner Napoleon Solo. He was second at the half. That horse was entered as a tactical speed horse. Kentucky Derby horses also tend to fare well in the Preakness.
Napoleon Solo won from post position 10, which went against the grain. Post position six has won the most Preakness races, 17 in total. Fourteen winners each have come from the four, five, and seven positions in the starting gate. On the other hand, in full fields, no horse has ever won the Preakness from post position 14.
Bankroll management and bet sizing
Just because the Preakness is a big day on the horse racing calendar, that doesn’t mean you should consider altering your betting strategy. The same principles of bankroll management and bet sizing will still apply. Set a race-day budget before placing any wagers.
The best strategy is to plan and be prepared. Get the Preakness program early, a few days before race day. Study each race in search of value. Establish your race day budget before considering a single wager. Allot so much money for straight bets and for exotic wagers if you plan to go that route. Set your betting plan and don’t deviate from it. Never chase losses. Pick your bets ahead of time and, win or lose, stick with the plan. Don’t start chasing losses, or you’ll dig yourself into a deep hole.
Preakness Stakes betting trends and historical data
Past performances are a handy tool in rating horse racing from a betting standpoint. That’s why knowing the history, especially the recent history, of the Preakness Stakes. We’ve studied the betting trends in the Preakness and assembled the following Preakness horse betting advice.
Post position win rates since 2000
Across all Preakness runnings, post position six has produced the most Preakness winners, with 17 victories. Fourteen winners apiece have started from the four, five, and seven positions in the starting gate.
| Post Position | Wins Since 2000 | Win Percentage | Most Recent Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 11.1% | National Treasure (2023) |
| 2 | 3 | 11.1% | Journalism (2025) |
| 3 | 1 | 3.7% | California Chrome (2014) |
| 4 | 4 | 14.8% | Swiss Skydiver (2020) |
| 5 | 4 | 14.8% | Seize the Grey (2024) |
| 6 | 2 | 7.4% | Rombauer (2021) |
| 7 | 3 | 11.1% | Justify (2018) |
| 8 | 1 | 3.7% | Bernardini (2006) |
| 9 | 2 | 7.4% | I'll Have Another (2012) |
| 10 | 1 | 3.7% | Napoleon Solo (2026) |
| 11 | 1 | 3.7% | Point Given (2001) |
| 12 | 1 | 3.7% | Afleet Alex (2005) |
| 13 | 1 | 3.7% | Rachel Alexandra (2009) |
| 14 | 0 | 0.0% | None |
Since 2000, every post position in the starting gate except 14 has supplied at least one winner. A horse has never won the Preakness starting from the 14-hole. Post position seven leads the way in that span with four victories. There have been three winners each starting from post positions one, four, five, and six in the starting gate.
Favourite vs longshot performance at Pimlico
Betting on favorites in the Preakness odds is not an advisable wagering path. Preakness favorites have failed to win the past eight races. Justify in 2018 was the last betting choice to win the race. Including 2026 winner Napoleon Solo (10/1), seven of the past 22 horses to win the Preakness have gone off at double-digit odds.
Four winners since 2011 have won the race at double-digit odds. Another Preakness myth is to bet on Kentucky Derby horses to win. Journalism (2025) was the first Derby horse to win the race since War of Will in 2019. Six of the past seven Preakness winners did not race in the Derby, including reigning champion Napoleon Solo.
Notable Preakness stakes records
Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner, still holds the Preakness Stakes record for the fastest race. Big Red won by two lengths in 1:53. The Preakness record for the largest margin of victory is 11 ½ lengths. That mark was set by Smarty Jones in 2004.
| Record | Holder | Time/Total/Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest Time | Secretariat (1973) | 1:53 |
| Largest Margin of Victory | Smarty Jones (2004) | 11 1/2 lengths |
| Most Wins (Jockey) | Eddie Arcaro | 6 |
| Most Wins (Trainer) | Bob Baffert | 8 |
| Most Wins (Owner) | Calumet Farm | 7 |
| Most Wins (Breeder) | Calumet Farm | 7 |
Bob Baffert is the winningest trainer in Preakness history. He won the race in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2023. As for jockeys, Eddie Arcaro holds the standard with six Preakness victories. Arcaro rode the race winner in 1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, and 1957. Calumet Farm is the owner that has sent out the most Preakness winners. Their horse won the race in 1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968, and 2013. Calumet Farm also ranks among the leading breeders of Preakness-winning horses..
Preakness Stakes history and race overview
If you are new to Preakness online betting, then you’re going to want to pay attention. Everything you need to know about the Preakness’s place in the lore of the Triple Crown is right here. Consider this essential background research to learn all you need to know about the Preakness and why it matters beyond merely being the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
What makes the Preakness Stakes unique in the Triple Crown
You don’t win the Triple Crown by winning the Preakness, but a horse can’t win the Triple Crown without winning the Preakness. And in 2027, the path to the Preakness is taking a new course. Breaking from tradition, the race will now be held on the fourth weekend of May, Memorial Day weekend. And the race is moving from its traditional home on the third Saturday in May to a Sunday, May 23, race date in 2027.
The three-week gap following the Kentucky Derby may enhance Triple Crown possibilities, since fewer horses may skip the Preakness than in past years. While the Derby is about large fields and the Belmont is a test of endurance, the Preakness makes you feel the need for speed. As the shortest of the three Triple Crown races, early pace is vital. Few horses come from far off the pace to win the Preakness.
Pimlico race course: track profile and conditions
Pimlico Race Course will return as home to the Preakness Stakes in 2027. Renovations at the Baltimore track required the movement of the 2026 Preakness to Laurel Park. Pimlico played host to the first Preakness in 1873. That was two years before the inaugural Kentucky Derby was contested.
Pace and speed are paramount to success at Pimlico in the Preakness. Tactical speed is vital to victory. Late closers may get a piece of the trifecta in the Preakness, but they rarely win the race. Horses that get to the front quickly are positioned best to win the race. Fourteen of the past 18 Preakness winners were in the front half of the field at the half-mile mark in the race.
Triple Crown winners and their Preakness runs
Let’s look at how the 13 Triple Crown winners fared in their Preakness victories. Sir Barton won his 1919 Preakness victory at 1⅛ miles. All other Triple Crown winners took their Preakness victory at the current race distance of 1 3/16 miles.
| Year | Horse | Winning Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Justify | 1:55.93 |
| 2013 | American Pharoah | 1:58.46 |
| 1978 | Affirmed | 1:54.40 |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | 1:54.40 |
| 1973 | Secretariat | 1:53.00 |
| 1948 | Citation | 2:02.40 |
| 1946 | Assault | 2:01.40 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | 1:57.40 |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | 1:58.80 |
| 1937 | War Admiral | 1:58.40 |
| 1935 | Omaha | 1:58.40 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | 2:00.60 |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | 1:53.00 |
Past Preakness Stakes winners (last 10 years)
Here's a complete rundown of the past 10 winners of the Preakness Stakes and their connections.
| Year | Horse | Post Position | $2 Win Payout | Racing Style | Final Prep Race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Napoleon Solo | 10 | $17.80 | Stalker | Wood Memorial |
| 2025 | Journalism | 2 | $4.00 | Closer | Kentucky Derby |
| 2024 | Seize the Grey | 5 | $21.60 | Front-runner | Pat Day Mile |
| 2023 | National Treasure | 1 | $7.80 | Front-runner | Santa Anita Derby |
| 2022 | Early Voting | 5 | $13.40 | Stalker | Wood Memorial |
| 2021 | Rombauer | 6 | $25.60 | Closer | Blue Grass Stakes |
| 2020 | Swiss Skydiver | 4 | $25.40 | Stalker | Kentucky Oaks |
| 2019 | War of Will | 1 | $14.20 | Stalker | Kentucky Derby |
| 2018 | Justify | 7 | $2.80 | Front-runner | Kentucky Derby |
| 2017 | Cloud Computing | 2 | $28.80 | Stalker | Wood Memorial |
Preakness Stakes Betting FAQ
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