Unlike the Kentucky Derby, which can be bet on at various times during the winter and spring leading up to the race in the form of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), pari-mutuel betting on the Preakness is restricted to just two days.
After the Preakness field is drawn on the Wednesday before the race, fans will have less than 48 hours to wait before wagering on the race is available at racetracks, simulcast centers, and on Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) platforms, including our Kenyan bookmakers.
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The Best Way to Bet Money at The 2026 Preakness Stakes
Money management is an important skill to master in maximizing your funds. For the Preakness Stakes, the race traditionally holds potential of nice payouts due to value in upsets with full fields.
Let’s look at betting strategies to maximize a small budget for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
This handicapper suggests not placing the full budget to win on a horse, as he likes to spread among opportunity and there really isn’t a true sure thing in racing.
When does Preakness Stakes Betting become available?
Traditionally, the first opportunity to wager on the Preakness is on the Black-Eyed Susan Day program at our bookies. The day prior to the Preakness is Pimlico’s second biggest day of betting due to attendance and thus a handle perspective.
Preakness Day starts early, with a first post of 10:30 a.m. (ET) the norm in recent years. 2020 was a most unusual year for the Preakness, due to major racing calendar disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to being delayed until early October, the Preakness was run as the 3rd and final leg of the Triple Crown, rather than in it’s usual position between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby is far and away the most wagered-on horse race in the country, but the Preakness often attracts $50 million or more in wagers. That’s good enough to be the second, or third, most wagered-on race in the country every year. The total handle on the Preakness program was a record-high $99.852 million. With no in-person attendance and a delayed running in October due to the pandemic, the 2025 Preakness card handle dropped to just $51.2 million. Expectations are for a major bounce back in 2026.
In addition to the traditional “straight” wagers (Win, Place, Show), fans can also attempt to cash big in the various “exotic” pools. Exacta (first two), Trifecta (first three), Superfecta (first four), and Super High Five (first five) wagering are all offered.
Odds for the Preakness will be posted as morning line following the draw Wednesday evening and then adjust live once betting officially opens.
The Preakness field is limited to a maximum of 14 horses.
Preakness Stakes Betting Strategy
Betting on the Preakness Stakes is a short but sweet affair. The post draw occurs on the Wednesday leading up to the weekend, and wagering will officially open when the Friday program begins two days later. Though early odds will be available, you can only place a bet during the two-day period over the weekend.
Unlike the first leg of the Triple Crown, which boasts the popular Kentucky Derby Futures Wager and various contests, the Preakness Stakes is a more traditional weekend of horse wagering. That doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of action.
Everything starts with Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday and ends on the Preakness Day on Saturday. In total there are 14 races, with the Preakness traditionally running as the 13th race on the program.
In 2025, the Preakness weekend garnered $99.85 million in all-sources wagering. 2025 also boasted record crowds of 131,256 in attendance.
Basic Preakness Stakes Betting Guide
Since the Preakness Stakes is considered a marquee event on the Thoroughbred racing calendar, all betting options are available to horse players. These include straight bets and exotic bets which are outlined below.
Straight Bets
- Win – The horse must finish first
- Place – The horse must finish first or second
- Show – The horse must finish first, second or third
Exotic Bets
- Exacta – Select two horses to finish 1st and 2nd in exact order
- Trifecta – Select three horses to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in exact order
- Superfecta – Select four horses to finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in exact order
Box Bet – The above exotics can be “boxed”, which adjusts the payout but makes the bet slightly easier to win. An “trifecta box” for example simply determines which three horses will finish in the top-three in no specific order.
Where To Bet on the Preakness Stakes
You can bet on the Preakness Stakes in person by joining the amazing crowd at Pimlico Racecourse itself. The track is located just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Preakness.com offers various travel packages as do a variety of other vendors.
You can also bet on the Preakness Stakes at our bookmakers using our mobile or desktop platforms. A full range of betting options will be available, as well as streaming options. Our handicapping tools and data resources are great for picks and wagering.
Conclusion
In summary, betting on horse races in the country continues to grow in popularity, thanks to the ease of using online sportsbook sites, mobile betting apps, and the excitement of large international race events like the Preakness Stakes. Elimination from encompassing win wagers to sophisticated exotic or combination wagers presents numerous opportunities to engage in responsible and strategic betting.
Punters are able to dramatically increase their betting experience by becoming educated about the various types of betting markets available, effectively managing their bankrolls and comparing lines from legitimate and well-established Kenyan betting sites.
As always, the three most important keys to betting success include discipline, research, and only choosing bookies that provide safe deposits and withdrawals, competitive betting odds and a customer-friendly environment for both novice and experienced bettors.