Preakness weekend horsemen bonuses worth $7.5M close Tuesday

As part of the newly created 1/ST Grand 3 racing series, horsemen will be offered $7.5 million in bonus opportunities as well as two qualifiers for races at Newmarket and Deauville on Preakness day, May 18 at Pimlico.

In addition to their respective purses, a $5 million bonus awaits the owner or owners of the horse who wins the $2 million Preakness, the $1 million California Crown (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, and the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in 2025.

Meanwhile, a $2.5 million bonus awaits the owner or owners of the horse who wins Pimlico’s $500,000 Dinner Party (G3), the $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf (G2), and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

In addition, the winner of the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint will receive an automatic entry and travel incentive to run in the July Cup Stakes (G1) at Newmarket on July 13. In turn, the July Cup winner will earn free entry and a travel incentive for the California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint (G2) on Sept. 28.

The winner of the Gallorette Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares on the turf will receive an automatic entry and travel incentive to run in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) at Deauville on Aug. 18. This award will only be given out should the winner of the Gallorette be aged 4 or above. Though the Gallorette is open to fillies and mares aged 3 and older, the Prix Jean Romanet is only open to 4-year-olds and above.

The Maryland Jockey Club will also offer bonus money totaling $100,000 bonus to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the stakes races during Preakness weekend, and another $50,000 bonus for trainers with the most points in non-stakes during the weekend.

Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 7. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at eleanor.albert@marylandracing.com or call 800-638-1859.