Pimlico to Run 21 Stakes Worth $4.2 Million

Pimlico Race Course plans a spring schedule featuring 21 stakes races worth more than $4.2 million, including eight graded evens on Preakness Stakes (gr. I) weekend May 15-16.

The 140th Preakness Stakes, the $1.5 million middle jewel of Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, will be run May 16. It will highlight a weekend that will include the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies, the $300,000 Longines Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) for 3-year-olds and up on the turf, and the $300,000 Pimlico Special (gr. III) for 3-year-olds and up.

The purse for the Black-Eyed Susan was reduced from $500,000 in 2014.

Preakness weekend will include two bonuses, one for the possible return of any winner of a Triple Crown event and another for trainers.

Pimlico will offer a $50,000 bonus to each owner and trainer who runs a horse in the Pimlico Special that has won a previous Triple Crown event. If a horse has won two Triple Crown events, the bonus will be $100,000 to both the trainer and owner.

Meanwhile, Pimlico will offer bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run in a minimum of five stakes and starter races during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000, and sixth $2,000.

Pimlico will also offer a Whips International Turf Starter Handicap for colts and geldings and fillies and mares that have run for $5,000 or less in 2014-2015 on April 4, May 2, and June 6. There will be a $5,000 bonus to the trainers of horses that have the most points after the series. Points will be awarded from first to third with every starter getting a point.

"The stakes schedule for Pimlico as well as the new bonus opportunities show our commitment to Maryland racing, its breeders, owners and horsemen, and our great fans," said Sal Sinatra, Maryland Jockey Club vice president and general manager. "We believe there is great potential and growth in Maryland Thoroughbred racing.

"Obviously, we're excited about Preakness weekend and the tremendous support we get from the state of Maryland, the people of Baltimore, the surrounding communities, and the horsemen. We believe the bonuses offered during Preakness weekend as well as those with our turf starter handicap series will make this a memorable spring."

The stakes schedule will kick off April 18 with six stakes totaling $575,000 topped by five $100,000 events: the Dahlia for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf; the Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; the Primonetta for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs; the Henry S. Clark for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf; and the $100,000 Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies going five furlongs on the turf.

Preakness eeekend begins May 15 with six stakes, four of them graded. On May 16, the 1 3/16 mile Preakness will be supported by seven other stakes.

Spring racing begins at Pimlico April 2.

For a complete list of the stakes, plus conditions, go to www.pimlico.com/horsemen/stakes-schedule.