The Preakness Stakes 2026 will be held at Laurel Park for the first time in history due to renovations at Pimlico. Iron Honor is the morning line favorite at 9-2, with 14 horses expected to compete.
Key points
Preakness Stakes 2026 held at Laurel Park for the first time
Pimlico Race Course undergoing $400 million renovation
Iron Honor is the morning line favorite at 9-2
Fourteen horses expected to compete, largest field since 2011
Three horses ran in the Kentucky Derby
Mentioned in this story
Cherie DeVauxLaurel ParkPimlico Race Course
Preakness Stakes 2026
Golden Tempo is headed to Saratoga. The Preakness Stakes Park as headed to Laurel Park and Saturday’s race will look nothing like the ones before it.
For the first time in its 151-year history, the Preakness will not be run at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Laurel Park, about 20 miles south, is hosting the race while Pimlico undergoes a $400 million renovation and revitalization project. The Preakness is expected to return to its historic home in 2027.
And without Kentucky Derby winner Golden Temp in the gate, the race is wide open. Trainer Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner when Golden Tempo surged from 23-1 odds to win on May 2, has decided to focus on the Belmont Stakes. That will be June 6 at Saratoga while Belmont is also under construction.
Fourteen horses are expected to go to the gate, the largest Preakness field since 2011. Three ran in the Kentucky Derby: Incredibolt, who finished sixth, Icelli, who finished a stunning third at 70-1 odds, and Robusta, who finished 14th.
Iron Honor is the morning line favorite at 9-2 from post 9. The Chad Brown-trained horse was kept off the Kentucky Derby course specifically to show up at the Preakness fresh. Brown has won the Preakness before with this exact strategy, taking it with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022.
Derby Day has arrived, and "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" will be here and gone before you know it. See the best moments from the race.
Jacob Skillman from Louisville yells in excitement while attending Thurby at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Haywire, ridden by Luan Machado, Sister Jean, ridden by Jaime A Torres, and Butterfly Jasmine, ridden by Brian J Hernandez take off out of the gate for the first race of the 2026 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Friday,
May 1, 2026.
Horses take off from the starting gate for the first race ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Lynn and Spencer Webster from Charlotte watch the first race on the card ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
People cheer in the infield as Time to Strike, ridden by John Velazquez, and Powershift, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., head down the back stretch at the 152nd Kentucky Derby in Louisville on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Kelly Green of Louisville had a unique fascinator made by Hat Haven that surrounded her face while she attended the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
Antonio Grassa laughs with his friends ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Brecken Erickson and Maci Cox embrace after Erickson proposes in the infield during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
A DJ spins tunes to the infield crowd during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
People cheer during the 91st running of The Churchill Downs on 2026 Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
Jockey Flavien Prat aboard, Stark Contrast celebrate after winning the 35th running of The American Turf at the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 2, 2026.
Horses cross the finish line ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Derby Day has arrived, and "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" will be here and gone before you know it. See the best moments from the race.
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Jacob Skillman from Louisville yells in excitement while attending Thurby at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
4 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Haywire, ridden by Luan Machado, Sister Jean, ridden by Jaime A Torres, and Butterfly Jasmine, ridden by Brian J Hernandez take off out of the gate for the first race of the 2026 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Friday,
May 1, 2026.
5 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Horses take off from the starting gate for the first race ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
6 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Lynn and Spencer Webster from Charlotte watch the first race on the card ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
7 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
People cheer in the infield as Time to Strike, ridden by John Velazquez, and Powershift, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., head down the back stretch at the 152nd Kentucky Derby in Louisville on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
8 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Kelly Green of Louisville had a unique fascinator made by Hat Haven that surrounded her face while she attended the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Antonio Grassa laughs with his friends ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Brecken Erickson and Maci Cox embrace after Erickson proposes in the infield during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
A DJ spins tunes to the infield crowd during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
People cheer during the 91st running of The Churchill Downs on 2026 Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Jockey Flavien Prat aboard, Stark Contrast celebrate after winning the 35th running of The American Turf at the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Horses cross the finish line ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The horse to watch is Taj Mahal, drawn into post 1 at 5-1. The unbeaten Nyquist colt has run all three of his career races at Laurel Park and won them all. Trainer Brittany Russell has been the dominant force in Maryland racing for three straight years. A win would make her the first woman to train a Preakness winner.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 Preakness Stakes:
When is the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: Approximately 6:50 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, USA Network
Stream: Peacock
Location: Laurel Park, Maryland
Taj Mahal 5-1 Sheldon Russell Brittany Russell
Ocelli 6-1 Tyler Gaffalione Whit Beckman
Crupper 30-1 Junior Alvarado Donnie Von Hemel
Robusta 30-1 Rafael Bejarano Doug O’Neill
Talkin 20-1 Irad Ortiz, Jr. Danny Gargen
Chip Honcho 5-1 Jose Ortiz Steve Asmussen
The Hell We Did 15-1 Luis Saez Todd Fincher
Bull by the Horns 30-1 Micah Husbands Saffie Joseph Jr.
Iron Honor 9-2 Flavien Prat Chad Brown
Napolean Solo 8-1 Paco Lopez Chad Summers
Corona de Oro 30-1 John Velazquez Dallas Stewart
Incredibolt 5-1 Jaime Torres Riley Mott
Great White 15-1 Alex Achard John Ennis
Pretty Boy Miah 15-1 Ricardo Santana Jeremiah Englehart
