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Preakness Purse and Prize Money Breakdown Ahead Of 2024 Running Of The Black-Eyed Susan

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Preakness Stakes Purse

The 149th renewal of the Black-Eyed Susan on Saturday, May 18 has seen the 2024 Preakness purse increase to $2,000,000. Which is up 21% from $1.65m in 2023 and meaning this year’s winning horse will bank around $210,000 more for their owners.

Preakness Purse Boosted To $2m For 149th Running

Having secured a cool $3.1m for winning the Kentucky Derby, the owners of Mystik Dan (Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC Et All) will be looking for another big payday in the Preakness Stakes – the middle leg of the US Triple Crown.

The great news for them, and all the other connections with runners in the race, is the Preakness purse has also been boosted by 21% from 2023 – with the pot now offering $2m to the runners.

Mystik Dan now the favorite with the best Preakness Stakes racebooks after the Bob Baffert-trained Muth was scratched from the race just four days before.

How The $2m Preakness Purse 2024 Is Expected To Be Broken Down

The 2024 boosted Black Eyed-Susan purse isn’t ‘winner takes all’ – but, that said, it’s still only on offer to the first five horses home.

Of course, the Preakness Stakes winner will collect the biggest chunk of the Preakness purse pie.

With the overall prize haul up just over 21%, there is every reason to think each of the top five prizes from 2023 will also individually increase by 21% – meaning the winner will get approx. $1.2m.

See below the expected Preakness purse for the first five finishers (based on each increasing 21% from 2023)

  • 1st: $1,199,999.00
  • 2nd: $399,999.60
  • 3rd: $219,999.80
  • 4th: $119,999.90
  • 5th: $59,999.94
  • Total: $1,999,998.20

Note: Figures are just an expected guide based on the overall 21.212% purse increase from 2023 to 2024 – this is the closest we can get it to the $2m confirmed purse (just $1.80 out).

2023 to 2024 Preakness Purse Payouts and Increases

See here in more detail the increase between the 2023 and 2024 winnings for each of the first five horses, with the overall 21% purse boost applied to each finishing position.

The most recent of the past Preakness Stakes winners National Treasure banked $990,000 after landing the 2023 Preakness Stakes, but the 2024 winning horse will collect approx. $209,999 more for their owners.

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan could be the horse to take these increased winnings home in 2024. The Ken McPeek runner currently has the shortest Preakness Stakes odds and will be looking to give his trainer a second Black-Eyed Susan having won the prize in 2020 with Swiss Skydiver.

Position 

2023

2024

% Increase

1st $990,000 $1,199,999.00 21.212%
2nd $330,000 $399,999.60 21.212%
3rd $181,500 $219,999.80 21.212%
4th $99,000 $119,999.90 21.212%
5th $49,500 $59,999.94 21.212%
Total Purse $1,650,000 $1,999,998.20

Only The Top Five Finishers Will Get Prize Money

Just like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes purse will only stretch down to the first five horses home.

However, unlike the Run For The Roses, where there are up to 20 runners, the Preakness Stakes often has a lot less. Meaning there’s a better chance for the runners to walk away with some cash.

In 2023, there were only seven Preakness runners, so just two horses missed out on the purse.

  • 1st: National Treasure ($990,000)
  • 2nd: Blazing Stevens ($330,000)
  • 3rd: Mage ($181,500)
  • 4th: Red Route One ($99,000)
  • 5th: Chase The Chaos ($49,500)
  • 6th: Perform ($0)
  • 7th: Coffeewithchris ($0)

How The Preakness Prize Money Has Increased Over The Years 

Over the years, the Preakness Stakes prize money has increased substantially since it was first run in 1873.

Survivor, who was the very first of the previous Preakness Stakes winners, won just $2,050 that year.

The purse increased over the years and reached $150,000 in 1976, while since then has had other notable prize increase milestones.

With the pot hitting $500,00 in 1989, $1,000,000 in 1998 and $1,500,000 in 2014.

Preakness Stakes Purse: Significant Increases Over The Years

See below the milestone Preakness Stakes purse increases with data provided by race organizers the Maryland Jockey Club, who operate Pimlico Race Course.

  • 2024: $2,000,000
  • 2023: $1,650,000
  • 2014: $1,500,000
  • 1998: $1,000,000
  • 1989: $500,000
  • 1985: $350,000
  • 1976: $150,000

Preakness Stakes Winners Prize Money Increase From 2004

Year Winner
Purse (1st)
2023 National Treasure $990,000
2022
Early Voting $990,000
2021 Rombauer $1,000,000
2020 Swiss Skydive $600,000
2019 War Of Will $990,000
2018 Justify $900,000
2017 Cloud Computing $900,000
2016 Exaggerator $900,000
2015 American Pharoah $900,000
2014 California Chrome $900,000
2013 Oxbow $600,000
2012 I’ll Have Another $600,000
2011 Shackleford $1,150,000
2010 Lookin At Lucky $600,000
2009 Rachel Alexandra $660,000
2008 Big Brown $600,000
2007 Curlin $600,000
2006 Bernardini $600,000
2005 Afleet Alex $650,000
2004 Smarty Jones $650,000

How Does the Preakness Stakes Purse Compare To The Other Triple Crown Races?

All three Triple Crown races this year have seen their purses increase, but it’s still the Kentucky Derby, which Mystik Dan won on May 4, that holds the most prize money at $5m.

Therefore, with the Black-Eyed Susan purse at $2m, it’s still $3m adrift of the Run For The Roses, but does offer the same amount of prize money as the Belmont Stakes – the last leg of the Triple Crown.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic, is still the most lucrative horse race in North America, with a $7,000,000 purse.

  • Kentucky Derby: $5m
  • Preakness Stakes: $2m
  • Belmont Stakes: $2m

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andynewton
andynewton

Andy Newton is a horse racing handicapper who specializes in key race trends for the top events in sport around the world - including horse racing. His statistical approach to finding winners is one that has paid off time and time again - putting history on his side by finding the best profiles based on past winners. Check out the latest trends and Preakness Stakes stats from Andy on the site.