Twelve Things You Should Know About the 2019 Preakness Stakes

The 144th edition of the Preakness Stakes takes place this Saturday at Pimlico in Baltimore. It will have no shortage of excitement with 12 horses expected to compete.

This is the first time since 1996 that the Derby winner won't be running in the Preakness. Grindstone sustained an injury winning the 1996 Derby and was retired. Country House came down with a cough last week.

The Preakness trophy is the most valuable in sports. The Woodlawn Vase was created by Tiffany and Co. in 1860 and was appraised at $1 million back in 1983.

Favorites have won 73 of 143 editions of the Preakness Stakes. Master Derby won the race at 23-1 in 1975.

Alwaysmining is bred in Maryland. Deputed Testamony was the last Preakness winner from the state.

The Preakness has been run after the Kentucky Derby on 11 occasions. The current order has not changed since 1931.

Bodexpress is a maiden, which hasn't won the Preakness Stakes since 1888.

The Preakness winner has been named Horse of the Year six times since 1999. Justify (2018), American Pharoah (2015), and California Chrome (2014) were the last three winners.

The 2019 Preakness Stakes is contested at 1.3 miles.

The Preakness Stakes is won by a horse that didn't race in the Derby only four times in 29 years. This year's field is expected to include four Derby runners: Improbable, War of Will, Win Win win and Bodexpress.

The first Preakness carried a purse of $2,050. This year's purse is $1.5 million, with 60 percent reserved for the winner.

Justify won the Preakness in California in 2018. American Pharoah won in Arkansas in 2015.

Smarty Jones won the Preakness by 11 lengths in 2004.