1996 Preakness Stakes

{{short description|121st running of the Preakness Stakes}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox horse race

| surface = Dirt

| name = 121st Preakness Stakes

| horse race = The Preakness Stakes

| image = 180px

| caption = "The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown"
"The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans"

| location = Pimlico Race Course,
Baltimore, Maryland,
United States

| date = May 18, 1996

| winning horse = Louis Quatorze

| winning jockey = Pat Day

| winning trainer = Nick Zito

| conditions = Fast

| previous = 1995

| next = 1997

}}

The 1996 Preakness Stakes was the 121st running of the Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 18, 1996, and was televised in the United States on the ABC television network. Louis Quatorze, who was jockeyed by Pat Day, won the race by {{frac|3|1|4}} lengths over runner-up Skip Away. Approximate post time was 5:33 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run over a fast track in a final time of 1:53-2/5.Daily Racing Form, May 19, 1996 Preakness Stakes Chart. The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 97,751, this is recorded as second highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1996.2010 Preakness Stakes Media Guide; page 95 (page P-7 of The Preakness section). The Maryland Jockey Club reported official Total Attendance as 97,751. This is listed as 85,122 Pimlico on-site attendance and 12,629 at Laurel on-site attendance.

The race did not include Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone, as he was retired five days after his victory, when a bone chip was discovered in his knee.{{cite news |url=https://newsok.com/article/2540098/grindstone-retired-due-to-knee-injury |title=Grindstone Retired Due to Knee Injury |agency=Associated Press|website=The Oklahoman |date=May 10, 1996 |access-date=May 19, 2019}} He was the first horse since Bubbling Over in 1926 to be retired immediately following a win in the Kentucky Derby.