Jockey

The Preakness Stakes holds a distinct place in global flat racing. Though it forms the middle jewel of the American Triple Crown, its rhythm, identity, and cultural flavor set it apart not only from the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes but also from Britain’s storied Classics like the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. Where European racing prizes patience, stamina, and undulating turf, the Preakness embraces speed, strategy, and the intensity of a tight dirt oval. Understanding what sets the Preakness apart means more than comparing race distances—it’s about recognizing how the race embodies core values of American racing, from aggressive pace scenarios to a different breed of crowd energy and preparation.

A Middle Jewel With Its Own Rhythm

The Preakness Stakes is not the opening act or the grand finale—it’s the middle challenge. Held just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, its timing creates a demanding schedule for three-year-olds. Unlike the Belmont Stakes, which allows a longer recovery window, the Preakness tests durability and adaptability more than pure stamina. Horses must rebound quickly, travel to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, and handle an entirely different pace dynamic.

This tight schedule often weeds out Derby participants who need longer recovery. As a result, the Preakness frequently features a smaller, more tactical field. That creates sharper pace scenarios. Front-runners have a better shot, especially over the 1 3/16-mile distance. It’s a setup that encourages speed and position over late endurance.

Races like the Belmont or the Epsom Derby—both stretching to 1 1/2 miles—reward patience and stamina. The Preakness flips that script with its emphasis on fast early fractions and rail position.

A Test of Momentum, Not Just Merit

The Preakness often turns on which horses can maintain momentum from the Derby. While fresh entrants may arrive with more energy, they typically lack the seasoning that comes from competing at Churchill Downs. In contrast, Derby returnees face the challenge of rebounding quickly, both physically and mentally. The result is a high-pressure contest that reveals which runners can hold their form under strain and adapt to a new, often unpredictable field.

This unique role within the Triple Crown elevates its strategic complexity. It’s not just about which horse is best on paper, but which one can adjust fastest. Trainers must strike a delicate balance between recovery and readiness. No European Classic puts this much pressure on such a tight turnaround. That’s where the Preakness stands alone.

For fans tracking form cycles, pace trends, and jockey shifts, reputable online sportsbooks like FanDuel.com offer real-time updates and market movements. Platforms like these give bettors a way to assess how public confidence shifts leading up to race day, helping them stay informed without relying solely on past performance figures.

Track Surface and Shape Favor a Different Style

Pimlico’s dirt surface plays a central role in shaping the race’s identity. It’s faster than turf and often favors early leaders who can kick clear before deep closers hit full stride. Unlike the turf-heavy landscape of UK Classics, where patient rides and steady acceleration dominate, the Preakness rewards aggression and gate speed.

The track’s tight turns and shorter stretch further amplify this bias. Horses can’t afford to wait too long. Jockeys often push forward earlier than they would in races like the St Leger or the Irish Derby. The configuration demands quick decisions and split-second adjustments. That makes the Preakness less forgiving to hesitation and more favorable to horses that can dictate pace from the front or stalk closely.

What Sets the Preakness Apart

The Preakness Stakes stands apart not just in scheduling or surface, but in spirit. It embodies the fast, tactical, and spectacle-driven nature of American racing, challenging horses and connections to adapt under pressure in ways European Classics do not. From Pimlico’s sharp turns to the festive energy in the stands, every element reinforces a distinct philosophy—one rooted in momentum, aggression, and immediacy. For fans and bettors alike, understanding what sets the Preakness apart is key to appreciating its role in the global racing landscape.

Formerly a successful point-to-point jockey, Tom Cannon rode his first winner under rules, Days Of Pleasure, trained by Chris Gordon, in a handicap hurdle at Fontwell on March 10, 2010. With the backing of Gordon, to whom he remains eternally grateful, he made rapid progress through the ranks and, in 2014/15, rode a then career-best 52 winners. Immediately prior to the start of the 2016/17 season, Cannon was appointed second jockey to Alan King Barbury Castle Stables in Wroughton, near Swindon, Wiltshire. He rode his first winner for the yard, Tyrell, in a juvenile hurdle at Warwick.

In 2019, following the retirement of Wayne Hutchinson, Cannon landed his ‘dream job’ as stable jockey at Barbury Castle and has continued to thrive ever since. In 2021/22, he enjoyed his most successful so far, numerically and fiscally, with 74 winners from 430 rides, at a strike rate of 17%, and just over £1 million in prize money. His seasonal tally included two Grade 1 wins, both on Edwardstone, in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December and the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival the following March.

All told, at the time of writing, Cannon has a total of 22 Graded and Listed wins to his name, to most recent of which coming on Telepathique, trained by Lucy Wadham, in the Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase at Huntingdon on February 6, 2025. In 2024/25, he has ridden 34 winners from 251 rides and currently lies joint-twentieth in the National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship.

A former point-to-point rider from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, Ryan Mania has endured a start-stop-start career as a professional jockey, but will always be best remembered for winning the Grand National on 66/1 outsider Auroras Encore, trained by Sue Smith, in 2013. Mania rode his first winners under rules for Midlothian trainer Peter Monteith in 2008, but his career was interrupted for a six months when, in 2011, his former employer, Howard Johnson, retired after being given a four-year ban by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Having won the Grand National at the first attempt, Mania went on to enjoy his most prolific season ever in 2013/14, with 53 winners, but in November 2014 announced his retirement from the saddle at the age of 24. He cited ongoing weight problems as the main reason for his decision and told the Yorkshire Post, “I’m not being fair to myself if I carry on being miserable.” During his second sabbatical, which would last until 2019/2020, he worked as kennel huntsman at the Braes of Derwent Hunt in Northumberland and, for a spell, as assistant to Berwickshire trainer Sandy Thomson.

Nevertheless, with the encouragement of his agent, Bruce Jeffrey, Mania returned to race riding for Sue Smith in October 2019. He enjoyed his most successful season since his return in 2020/21, when he rode 43 winners, including his first Cheltenham Festival winner, Vintage Clouds, in the Ultima Handicap Chase. In his career as a whole, Mania has seven Graded and Listed wins to his name.

Born in Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, in Southern Africa on March 7, 1988, Sean Levey moved to Ireland with his family in his early teens. He became apprenticed to Aidan O’Brien in Ballydoyle, County Tipperary at the age of 17 and over the next six years or so rode 46 winners on Irish soil, including Psalm I, trained by O’Brien, in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on October 5, 2008.

Still in receipt of a 5lb claim, despite having ridden in every Irish Classic, and the Prix de ‘Arc de Triomphe, in 2011 Levey moved to England to join David O’Meara in Upper Helmsley, near Nawton, North Yorkshire. He joined Richard Hannon Snr. in East Everleigh, near Marlborough, Wiltshire shortly afterwards and, nowadays, alongside Pat Dobbs, is stable jockey to Richard Hannon Jnr..

Levey rode his first of his nine Group 1 winners, 66/1 rank outsider Billesdon Brook, trained by Hannon, in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May 2018. In October 2019 he doubled his Group 1 tally when winning the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes, also at Newmarket, on the same horse and two weeks later also won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on King Of Change. Levey has ridden 50 or more winners in every season since 2013, bar 2018, when he missed the second half of the season through injury, 2020, when he rode 49, and 2024, when he rode 49.His most successful season, numerically, was 2017, when he rode 73 winners.