Horse Racing Preakness Stakes

When: Saturday, May 19, 2012

Where: Pimlico Race Course; Baltimore, Maryland

The 2012 Preakness Stakes is fast approaching. This historic race will be run at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, May 19, 2012. Bet on all the Triple Crown prep races live at Bookmaker.

The Preakness Stakes is held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, the second oldest racetrack in North America. It was first held in 1873, making it two years older than the Kentucky Derby, yet it is known by modern-day fans and horse betting handicappers as the "Second Leg of the Triple Crown." The Preakness Stakes is run two weeks following the Kentucky Derby, and it gives one three-year-old the chance to continue their horse betting quest towards racing's greatest prize.

In 2011, a horse betting crowd of more than 107,000 filed past the gates to witness SHACKLEFORD turn the tables on Kentucky Derby winner ANIMAL KINGDOM, once again denying the racing world of a Triple Crown winner. Those in horse betting attendance pushed more than $5.1 million through the horse betting windows, and "all sources handle" for Preakness Day topped $69 million.

While there is no doubt that Preakness Day is the highlight of the racing calendar, both from a social and horse betting standpoint, the Preakness had developed a reputation as "Party Day." The infield at Churchill Downs can certainly get a big rowdy during the Kentucky Derby, but horse betting patrons at Pimlico seem to take this opportunity to one-up their brethren in Kentucky.

Pimlico even has a name for it – "Infieldfest." This massive party includes live music, cornhole tournaments, a graffiti wall, the horse betting finals of a National Volleyball League event, and a bikini contest. Yet nothing seems as popular with the infield revelers as the "Bottomless Beer Mug" – that speaks for itself. Pimlico's mascot for the horse betting event, none other than "Kegasus – Lord of the Infield." This hapless creation is half horse, half man!

For the more cerebral fan, and those in the main horse betting facility who may choose to make Preakness Day a family event, there is the annual horse betting appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales, who parade on the track preceding the big race.

The Kentucky Derby presents the horse betting winner a blanket of roses, while the Preakness Stakes presents the winner a black-eyed susan blanket. The first two legs of the Triple Crown do have something in common as far as tradition – Early Times Kentucky Whiskey. At Churchill Downs this is the main ingredient in a Mint Julep; at Pimlico this is the main horse betting ingredient in, what else, a Black-Eyed Susan.

One tradition unique to the Preakness Stakes is the painting of the weather vane. Once the race has been declared horse betting official, a painter is raised to the top of the winner's circle copula, where they paint the colors of the winning silks onto the weather vane. There they will remain for all to see until the Preakness Stakes is run again the following horse betting year.

While it may not be on the same horse betting scale as the Kentucky Derby, there is a series of social and community events in the Baltimore area leading up to the Preakness Stakes. Among them are fashion shows, a charity 5K run, and the traditional Alibi Breakfast.

It probably comes as no horse betting surprise that the Preakness Stakes plays second-fiddle to the Kentucky Derby. After all, fans and horseplayers start talking Kentucky Derby in November following the Breeders' Cup. The Preakness gets two weeks following the Kentucky Derby. But during those two horse betting weeks Pimlico Race Course will pull out all the stops and the racing world will take notice.

After all, twenty three-year-olds head to Churchill Downs with horse betting dreams of winning a Triple Crown. By the time they reach Pimlico, only one remains standing with a chance at rewriting the history horse betting books.

Triple Crown previews, race recaps and wagering are always available in the racebook at Bookmaker. Bet on these events live. BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smart phone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker sportsbook!

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