1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club celebrated the return of live entertainment by welcoming 10,000 fans to Preakness 146 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown and the signature race in the state of Maryland made history with a record setting handle of $112.5 million wagered on the 14-race card, surpassing the past wagering record of $99.85 million wagered in 2019. Today’s record comes on the heels of the record $27.6 million handle wagered on Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday, May 14.
Rombauer, owned by John Fradkin and Diane Fradkin, ridden by jockey Flavien Prat and trained by Michael McCarthy, were presented with the Woodlawn Vase for their first place finish in the 146th Preakness Stakes (GI), completing the 1 3/16-mile race in 1 minute and 53 seconds. Midnight Bourbon finished second and Medina Spirit took third.
Belinda Stronach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of 1/ST, hosted VIP guests in the 1/ST Chalet including Grammy Award-winning rapper 2 Chainz, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, contestant of The Bachelor franchise Tyler Cameron and his girlfriend Camila Kendra, to name a few, all enjoyed spectacular finish line views from the two-story glass chalet located next to the Winner’s Circle.
“Preakness 146 surpassed all expectations!” said Belinda Stronach. “We thank our fans in attendance and those at home, our stakeholders, jockeys and the community for their ongoing support and passion for our sport. The team at 1/ST did an outstanding job of putting together an exceptional racing and entertainment program and we look forward to welcoming all fans back in 2022.”
Replacing the tradition of InfieldFest for this year, 3,000 fans attended Preakness LIVE, a reimagined entertainment experience featuring an all-star lineup of performances by legendary #ClubQuarantine DJ, D-Nice, NAACP Image Awards Entertainer Of The Year, 2 Chainz, Grammy Award-winning rapper and Billboard Award Winner Major Lazer. The front rows were reserved exclusively for 200 first responders and frontline workers. Excerpts of Preakness LIVE performances were shown on NBC during the live race day broadcast. In addition to the live music excitement of Preakness LIVE, the Preakness 146 JockeyCam was live streamed offering a thrilling “second screen experience” that gave fans at home a real-time view of what it is like to be a jockey riding in the Preakness Stakes.
A first-of-its kind in Thoroughbred racing, this year’s Preakness commemorated its incredible 146 year legacy with an exclusive line of limited edition NFTs. The Preakness NFT collection features full race clips from some of the biggest races in Preakness history giving fans and collectors the opportunity to own official Preakness races as exclusive 1-of-1 NFTs. Immediately following Rombauer’s victory, the Preakness became the fastest professional sports organization, team, or athlete to mint an NFT following a sporting event. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the NFTs will benefit The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The Preakness Stakes NFT auction runs to Monday, May 17th at PreaknessStakesNFT.com.
Guests at Preakness 146 enjoyed Jackson Family Wines, including Kendall Jackson and La Crema, the official wine partner of this year’s race. La Crema even had an immersive wine tasting experience offering multiple wine varietals in Govino wine glasses at the top of the stretch near Turfside Terrace. Additional drink options included Ketel One Botanical, complete with a photo wall, Maker’s Mark, the official bourbon of the Black-Eyed Susan cocktail and Coors Light. In keeping with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, GoVaxMd masks were seen throughout the facility and guests were shuttled in safety by Charm City Cars.