Greatest Moments in Preakness History

It may not carry the cachet of the Kentucky Derby, nor does it possess the Triple Crown clinching importance of the Belmont Stakes, but in many ways the Preakness Stakes has proven to be the most formful and interesting race of the series. In fact, history has taught us that if you win the Preakness, you have a great shot of being named a champion. As such, it is on a very short list of my favorite races of the year. Many editions run during my lifetime would qualify as unforgettable, and of those, these five runnings of the Preakness Stakes are the best of the best …

After a disappointing Wood Memorial, Secretariat proved he was best in the Kentucky Derby, but it was in the next two races where he really demonstrated what kind of superstar he truly was. Everyone talks about the 31-length tour de force in the Belmont, but underestimating his last to first move early in the Preakness should never be allowed. Horses just don’t do this … but Secretariat did!

It may have been their eighth meeting, but the stakes only got larger for Affirmed and Alydar through each stop of the 1978 Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby proved rather routine for second choice, Affirmed, but in the Preakness and the Belmont, his great rival would turn up the pressure. In many ways, the 1978 Preakness is a microcosm on just why Affirmed was able to get the measure of Alydar on so many occasions.

Sunday Silence was a runaway winner of the Santa Anita Derby, but still, it was Easy Goer who was the big favorite in the Kentucky Derby. A messy track saw the California colt weave his way to victory over the Eastern star. In the Preakness, Easy Goer threw everything but the kitchen sink at his new rival in an attempt to reverse the Derby result. The ensuing battle provided one of the greatest stretch drives in American racing history.

If Affirmed and Alydar were the stars of the greatest rivalry in racing history, it is Silver Charm and Free House who have provided the greatest rivalry of the last quarter-century. Out of all of their memorable meetings, none was better than this Pimlico classic, in which Captain Bodgit and Touch Gold only added to the intrigue.

Afleet Alex never should have won the Preakness. He should have fallen after being knocked everything but down by Scrappy T entering the Pimlico stretch. Staying on his feet like he did was a wonderful example of equine athletic ability at its finest. Always a top notch colt, it was on this Baltimore afternoon that Afleet Alex became stuff of legend.