Good to see you again, thoroughbred horse racing aficionados! After helping you win big at the 140th Kentucky Derby by urging you to choose California Chrome (well, some of us did anyway) we figured we’d extend you the same courtesy for the 139th Preakness Stakes, the post time of which is slated for Saturday, May 17 at 6:18 p.m. ET.
The second leg of the Triple Crown will see a much smaller filed of horses, just ten compared to the 19 (not counting late scratches) in the Kentucky Derby. The winner of the Deby, California Chrome, stands to be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed took that distinction in 1978.
So to help you enjoy the redheaded stepchild of horse racing 2014 Preakness Stakes, and all of the entertaining aspects that accompany it, we suggest you adhere (loosely) to the following guide.
Imbibe:
Everyone knows the Kentucky Derby is all about the bourbon. Mint Juleps reign supreme on Derby Day but for the Preakness, it’s all about the Black-Eyed Susans. Just mix:
- 1 1/2 oz of Finlandia Vodka
- 1/2 oz St. Germain
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1/4 oz lime juice
- 3/4 oz orange juice
- Garnish with fresh orange slice
The Field:
As mentioned, the field for the Preakness is much smaller than that of the Kentucky Derby’s but the stakes are just as high, especially for California Chrome. Keep in mind the odds are subject to change right up until post time.
Screenshot via 139th Preakness Stakes
Preakness Start Time:
Post time is when each of the horses takes to the gate to await the signal gun. The race typically starts shortly afterwards. Post time for the 139th Preakness Stakes is 6:18 p.m. ET.
Coverage:
NBC will begin its coverage live from Pimlico at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC Sports coverage kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on, same as with the Derby. A live stream will be available online at NBC Sports Extra.
HRTV will air the following coverage schedule:
“Pursuit of the Crown” — 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT
“RaceDay America” — 10 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT (including live racing from Pimlico)
“Westrock Coffee First Call” — 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT
Pimlico Live Racing — Noon-4:30 p.m. ET/9 a.m. -1:30 p.m. PT
The Baltimore Sun is also running a live blog on their website available for viewing here.
Predictions from the BostInno editorial team:
I’ll be the last person to tell you correctly which horse is going to win today. Does that matter? Absolutely not. Because in the end, races like the Preakness, the Kentucky Derby and the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes are all about having a good time, enjoying the traditions and maybe winning a couple of extra bucks.
So who’s BostInno picking to win? For me, it’s all about Pablo Del Monte from post 9 with 20-1 odds, because he sounds like pretty debonaire colt.
Marian White (staff writer, lifestyle): “I don’t like any of them.”
Hayden Bird (staff writer, sports): “I’ll take Bayern purely on the belief that he shares his name with Germany’s top soccer club, Bayern Munich. Using the Bundesliga table as my guide, he should win this in a runaway.”
Lauren Landry (associate editor): “Dynamic Impact, duh, because he is going to have a DYNAMIC IMPACT on the race.”
Alex Weaver (managing editor): “Kid Cruz. All day.”
Caroline Earle (staff writer, health & fitness): “Ride On Curlin for me … cause I bet that pony does a lot of bicep curls.”
Nate Boroyan (staff writer, city news): “Social Inclusion, you guys. Guess I’m the only believer. Sick of this.”
Alex Reimer (junior writer, sports): “Social Inclusion, because I’ve always been socially excluded 🙁 ”
