The 10 Fastest Horses to Ever Race the Preakness Stakes

Any horse racing enthusiast has heard of (and likely watched) one of the three great American races: The Kentucky Derby, The Belmont Stakes, and The Preakness Stakes. Many legendary horses have zipped around these tracks. But which horses have left their mark on the legendary Preakness Stakes track? 

From legendary champions to rising stars, we’ll introduce you to the top 10 horses that have made history on the Preakness track and share some fascinating details about their incredible abilities. So, get ready to be amazed by these equine champions and their record-breaking performances!

The Preakness Stakes

Every third Saturday of May, the Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, hosts the Preakness Stakes, which is a prominent American horse racing event. It coincides with Armed Forces Day and is a Grade I race held on dirt over a distance of 1 3/16 miles. Fillies carry 121 pounds, while colts and geldings must carry 126 pounds.

Named after the victorious horse of the Dinner Party Stakes in 1870, the Preakness Stakes was inaugurated in 1873 at the Pimlico Racecourse. Today, the Preakness Stake is one of the 3 Triple Crown Races in the USA, including the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

The Preakness Stakes is older than the Kentucky Derby but receives less attention. The purse for the first Preakness Stakes was $2,050, which is only 0.14% of the current $1.5 million purse.

 #1: Secretariat – 1:53.00

Secretariat is, without a doubt, the most legendary American racing horse. Ridden by Ron Turcotte, Secretariat is the fastest horse to ever race in the Preakness Stakes. This remarkable feat was achieved in 1973 when he completed the 1 3/16-mile course in 1 minute and 53 seconds. Secretariat also set records for the other two Triple Crown races that year, which still stand today.

Even those who are not fans of horse racing are likely to have heard of Secretariat. The horse, affectionately known as “Big Red,” was owned by Penny Chenery and made history by breaking the Derby record before going on to win both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. At the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat won the race by an astonishing 31 lengths!

Secretariat’s impressive power was primarily derived from his hindquarters, which had a sloped croup extending the length of his femur. This allowed his hind legs to reach far under himself during a full stride, increasing his drive. His long back, ample girth, and perfect neck also played a key role in his heart-lung efficiency.

Secretariat’s impressive performance at The Preakness was completed in 1:53.40. This time was initially disputed, though. The debate over the accuracy of the time continued for 39 years until careful footage analysis finally confirmed the time of 1:53.00, thus awarding Secretariat the record time for the Pimlico Racecourse.

#2: Swiss Skydiver – 1:53.30

Did you know that a filly (female horse) holds the second-fastest time to win the modern Preakness? Swiss Skydiver, a chestnut filly with a white star, won the race against a field of colts in 2020 with a time of 1:53.30. This time is just .3 seconds slower than the legendary Secretariat’s time.

Swiss Skydiver was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and was sold for $35,000 at the Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale in 2018. The talented filly was ridden by jockey Robby Albarado to claim the Preakness victory.

On 9 November 2021, Swiss Skydiver was sold for an impressive $4.7 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. The sale was the third highest at the auction. Swiss Skydiver was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm and exported to the United Kingdom.

#3: Tank’s Prospect – 1:53.40 (Tie)

Tank’s Prospect may not have been as successful as his famous ancestor, Native Dancer, finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby. However, he made a comeback with jockey Pat Day and won the 1985 Preakness by a head, finishing with a time of 1 minute and 53.40 seconds, just 0.4 seconds behind Secretariat. 

Unfortunately, his racing career came to an end after he broke down during the Belmont.

Tank’s Prospect wore a bar shoe on his right front hoof during the Preakness due to a foot bruise. He showed signs of discomfort after the race and continued to wear the protective shoe during the Belmont. Despite his coarseness, Tank’s Prospect had the strong hindquarters characteristic of his relative, Native Dancer.

#3: Louis Quatorze – 1:53.40 (Tie)

Louis Quatorze was a notable American thoroughbred racehorse and sire famous for his victory in the 1996 Preakness Stakes. He shares the joint record for the third-fastest time ever recorded in the Preakness.

During his racing career, Louis Quatorze participated in the $700,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse in April 1996, finishing as the runner-up in a field of seven horses.

Following his retirement, Louis Quatorze spent his remaining years standing as a stallion at Murmur Farm, located in Darlington, Maryland. He passed away on February 17, 2017, at age 23.

#4: Curlin – 1:53.50

In 2007, Curlin, a stallion that came in third in the Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness in a speedy time of 1:53.46 with jockey Robby Albarado. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes later that year. 

Curlin accumulated over $10.5 million in winnings from 2008 to 2016, making him the highest earning North American racehorse during that time period. He earned the distinction of being Horse of the Year twice as well. 

Curlin proved to be an outstanding dirt track horse, earning a Time form rating of 134 in August 2008, which crowned him the best in the world. The National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame inducted Curlin in 2014, a fitting tribute to an exceptional horse.

#5: Gate Dancer – 1:53.60 (Tie)

Gate Dancer, was another horse with an impressive lineage tracing back to Native Dancer, made a name for himself in the racing world with his impressive performance in the 1984 Preakness. The jockey, Angel Cordero Jr., rode him to victory with a record-breaking time of 1:53.60.

Apart from the Preakness, Gate Dancer’s only other notable victory was in the 1984 Super Derby. However, he made history in the inaugural 1984 Breeder’s Cup Classic, where he finished the race alongside Slew O’Gold and Wild Again. The judges awarded him third place.

Unfortunately, Gate Dancer was unable to pass on his impressive genes to future generations.

#5: Summer Squall – 1:53.60 (Tie)

Summer Squall, a descendant of Northern Dancer (one of the top racing horses of all time), won the Preakness Stakes in 1990, finishing with a time of 1:53.60. The race was noteworthy as it had the same finishing time as Gate Dancer’s win in 1984. Pat Day was the jockey who rode Summer Squall to victory.

Pat Day was a notable jockey who had a fierce rivalry with Unbridled, whom he managed to defeat in four out of their six meetings. Summer Squall later became a successful breeding stallion. One of his notable progenies was Charismatic, who won the Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately, Summer Squall was euthanized in September 2009 due to old age-related infirmities.

#6: Rombauer – 1:53.62 

The 2021 Preakness Stakes saw Rombauer emerge as the winner, finishing with a time of 1 minute and 53.62 seconds. With a lead of 3.5 lengths, Rombauer put up an impressive performance, almost matching the records set by Summer Squall and Gate Dancer.

Rombauer’s jockey, Flavien Prat, rode him to victory in the Preakness after earning enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. However, Rombauer’s owners, the Fradkins, chose to bypass the Kentucky Derby and focus on the Preakness instead. Rombauer also finished third in the Belmont Stakes.

Rombauer made his debut in a maiden special weight race on July 25, 2020, held at Del Mar over a distance of one mile on the turf. Initially trailing in sixth place with just a furlong remaining, Rombauer suddenly picked up speed and won the race by half a length.

#7: Sunday Silence – 1:53.80

In 1989, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes were won by a racehorse named Sunday Silence. Despite his victories, he failed to complete the coveted Triple Crown when he came in 2nd place at the Belmont Stakes. 

Nonetheless, he redeemed himself by winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic later that same year. As a result of his remarkable performances, he was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and American Horse of the Year.

Pat Valenzuela was the jockey who rode Sunday Silence to his impressive wins, including his record time of 1:53.80. However, after he retired from racing, Sunday Silence struggled to gain popularity among American breeders and was eventually exported to Japan. 

#8: Hansel – 1:54.00 (Tie)

One of the fastest horses to ever win the Preakness Stakes was a magnificent stallion named Hansel. He secured the victory in the year 1991, ridden by jockey Jerry Bailey.

Hansel was acquired for $150,000, based on the recommendation of the Frank Brothers. Interestingly, his name is derived from the famous tale of “Hansel and Gretel.”

In the Preakness race, Hansel left the field of eight behind, winning by a whopping seven lengths. The second and third place runners were Corporate Report and Mane Minister, respectively. Best Pal and Strike the Gold finished in fifth and sixth place.

Hansel held the record time of 1:54.00 for the Preakness Stakes. Before his passing, he held the distinction of being the oldest living winner of both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

#8: Canonero II – 1:54.00 (Tie)

Sitting jointly at number eight with Hansel, Canonero II made the record by winning Preakness Stakes in 1 minute and 54 seconds.

Canonero II stunned spectators and experts alike when he won the Kentucky Derby from the 18th position, beating the field of 20 horses by 3 and 3/4 lengths!

Despite his impressive victory, many believed that it was a one-time fluke and that Canonero II would never win another race. However, he proved the naysayers wrong by going on to win the Preakness Stakes in 1971. Unfortunately, Canonero II failed to win the final leg of the Triple Crown races when he finished 4th in the Belmont stakes due to a foot infection.

He was ridden by jockey Gustavo Ávila and retired at the end of 1972. Sadly, Cañonero II passed away in 1981, but his legacy as a legendary racehorse will live on.

#9: Codex – 1:54.20 (Tie)

In 1980, a talented American thoroughbred racehorse named Codex became the winner of the Preakness Stakes. The jockey who rode him to victory was Angel Cordero Jr. 

In an accidental entry by the owner’s son, Codex was entered into the race and went on to beat the Kentucky Derby winner that year, Genuine Risk, by an impressive 4.5 lengths. His finish time of 1:54.20 tied with Spectacular Bid’s record from the previous year.

However, his life was tragically cut short when he was found paralyzed in his stall. As a result, he was euthanized on August 20, 1984.

#9: Spectacular Bid – 1:54.20 (Tie)

Spectacular Bid is an exceptional American Thoroughbred racehorse. This horse is known for holding the record for the fastest 1 1/4 miles on dirt. Winning an impressive 26 out of 30 races, he earned a then-record $2,781,607 in prize money.

In the year 1979, Spectacular Bid won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. His Preakness victory was particularly noteworthy, as he clocked in at an incredible time of 1:54.20. 

This remarkable accomplishment made him a strong contender for the coveted Triple Crown. However, a hoof injury prior to the Belmont Stakes caused him to finish in third place.

#10: Timber Country – 1:54.40 (Tie)

In 1995, Timber Country’s racing record was dismal, as he failed to win a single race that year, including the Kentucky Derby, where he managed only a third-place finish. However, his fortunes changed during the Preakness Stakes when he surprised everyone with a victory. 

He won by half a length, with a time of 1:54.40, which was the same time recorded by racing legends Affirmed in 1978 and Seattle Slew in 1977. The jockey who rode him to victory in the Preakness Stakes was Pat Day.

It is worth noting that Timber Country’s lineage can be traced back to two of the greatest racehorses in history, Native Dancer and War Admiral.

#10 Affirmed – 1:54.40 (Tie)

Affirmed was the winner of all three Triple Crown races in 1978, which was the second year in a row a Triple Crown was achieved! What was interesting about this triple crown was how close all three races were with another contender, Alydar. 

Affirmed only won The Preakness by a neck, so it was a very close race. Still, Affirmed won the race and went on to win The Belmont Stakes by 1 ½ lengths, becoming the 11th horse to win all three triple crown races.

The next Triple Crown was not achieved until 37 years later when American Pharoah won all three races in 2015!

#10 Seattle Slew – 1:54.40 (Tie)

Seattle Slew won all three Triple Crown races just one year before Affirmed. Even more coincidental, the horses had the exact same time on their Preakness races, at 1:53.40!

Seattle Slew won The Preakness in 1977 by 1 ½ lengths, completing one of the fastest times in history. Seattle Slew was the first horse to win the Triple Crown after Secretariat, who won just four years earlier in 1973.

Summary of the Fastest Horses to Ever Race the Preakness Stakes

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Froggerlaura and Mike Lizzi/ CC BY-SA 2.0 – License / Original