2020 Preakness Stakes

This was the first time since the 1945 Triple Crown races were affected by World War II that the event took place outside of its regular May schedule.{{cite web |url=https://www.twinspires.com/blog/2020/03/19/1945-when-the-kentucky-derby-moved-from-may-to-june-by-vance-hanson |title=1945 – When the Kentucky Derby moved from May to June |first=Vance |last=Hanson |website=twinspires.com |date=March 19, 2020 |access-date=June 20, 2020}} With the Belmont Stakes run on June 20 and the Kentucky Derby on September 5, the Preakness became the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-sp-preakness-belmont-move-20200519-7szlaqi47vby5lsljjsmxgn7yy-story.html |title=Preakness will be third race of Triple Crown as Belmont Stakes moves to June 20 |first=Childs |last=Walker |website=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=June 20, 2020}} As different horses won the Belmont and the Kentucky Derby, it was established prior to the Preakness that there would be no Triple Crown winner in 2020.

The race provided the winner with a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, held a month later on November 7.{{cite news |last1=Greenberg |first1=Neil |title=Analysis {{!}} Odds, analysis and post positions for 2020 Preakness Stakes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/28/preakness-stakes-odds-analysis/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=28 September 2020}}

Per a decision by the Maryland Jockey Club,{{cite news |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/243404/preakness-no-more-maryland-my-maryland |title=Preakness: No More 'Maryland, My Maryland' |first=Frank |last=Vespe |website=bloodhorse.com |date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=October 3, 2020}} "Maryland, My Maryland" was not played before the Preakness, as had been prior tradition—the song "which celebrates the Confederacy, is considered by some to be racist".{{cite news |url=https://journalstar.com/sports/article_6e5d2aad-daa0-5f61-9e22-f111e644592f.html |title=Preakness 2020: No fans, no traffic, no booze, no May heat |first=David |last=Ginsburg |agency=AP |date=October 3, 2020 |access-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-date=October 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008152519/https://journalstar.com/sports/article_6e5d2aad-daa0-5f61-9e22-f111e644592f.html |url-status=dead }}

On September 22, the owners of Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law announced that he would not run in the Preakness.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/tiz-the-law-belmont-stakes-winner-wont-run-in-preakness-stakes/ |title=Tiz the Law, Belmont Stakes winner, won't run in Preakness Stakes |first=Chris |last=Bengel |website=CBS Sports |date=September 23, 2020 |access-date=September 25, 2020}} In his absence, the favorite was Authentic, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Haskell Invitational. When entries were taken on September 28, Authentic drew post position 9 in a field of eleven. Key rivals were:{{cite web |title=Authentic Draws Post 9 for the Preakness |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/243765/authentic-draws-post-9-for-the-preakness |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=28 September 2020 |language=en}}

• Art Collector – winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and the Ellis Park Derby
• Thousand Words – winner of the Shared Belief Stakes
• Swiss Skydiver – winner of the Alabama Stakes, second in the Blue Grass Stakes and Kentucky Oaks
• Mr. Big News – third in the Kentucky Derby

Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=PIM&raceDate=10/03/2020&cy=USA&rn=11 |title=Preakness Stakes Grade 1 |website=equibase.com |date=October 3, 2020 |access-date=October 3, 2020}}

• $1 Exacta (4–9) $37.80
• $1 Trifecta (4–9–6) $1,205.70
• $1 Superfecta (4–9–6–3) $5,053.00
• $1 Super High Five (4–9–6–3–8) $64,812.60

Times: {{frac|1|4}} mile – 0:24.48; {{frac|1|2}} mile – 0:47.65; {{frac|3|4}} mile – 1:11.24; mile – 1:34.74; final – 1:53.28.

Splits for each quarter-mile: (:24.48) (:23.17) (:23.59) (:23.50) (:18.54 for final {{frac|3|16}})

Source:

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official site|www.preakness.com}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTPXlSXVWbw Preakness Stakes 2020: Swiss Skydiver becomes sixth filly to win in 145 runnings] from NBC Sports via YouTube

{{Preakness Stakes}}

{{Thoroughbred Racing on NBC}}

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2020

Category:2020 in horse racing

Category:2020 in American sports

Category:October 2020 sports events in the United States

Category:Horse races in Maryland

Category:2020 in sports in Maryland

Category:Sports events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:2020 in Baltimore