Knowing how to bet on Preakness Stakes the right way is crucial to your chances of success. Our experts talk you through everything including how and where to make your picks – we also share some Preakness Stakes betting strategies and tips that will help!
The Preakness Stakes is an annual, Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race run on the third Saturday of May. You can bet on the race with the best Preakness Stakes betting sites and racebooks.
But before considering how to bet on the Preakness Stakes, it’s worth learning a little about the event’s history. Of which there is a lot.
The second of US Thoroughbred Racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. First run on May 27, 1873, the second leg of the Triple Crown predates the Kentucky Derby, raced in Churchill Downs, by two years. Traditionally, it is run two weeks after its sister race in Louisville and three before the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.
Only three-year-old Thoroughbreds may compete in the race – horses must be of exceptional quality to enter, however. The winners of the Kentucky Derby, Federico Tesio Stakes, Oaklawn Invitational, and El Camino Real Derby races automatically qualify for the Preakness Stakes post positions draw. The rest of the field comprises horses with high ratings and earnings in graded-stakes races.
It takes around five minutes to sign up for an account with an offshore bookmaker. All the sites we recommend are 100% safe and secure, providing secure platforms from where to sign up. Follow these steps to learn how to bet on Preakness Stakes online when you join an online sportsbook or racebook.
Sign up with one or more of our recommended offshore betting sites to get your wagers down. Learning how to bet on Preakness online is easier when you can place bets and collect winnings from your computer or mobile device.
All sites in our rankings are 100% safe and trustworthy places to bet. They have been handpicked by our experts, who have awarded them scores based on their bonuses, odds, markets, payment options, and more.
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Payment options at offshore bookies include credit cards, cryptocurrencies, e-wallets, bank transfers, and a few others. What is available depends on the site and their cashier section – you can usually do this before signing up. Here are the most common payment methods and a little about how they work.
Credit cards are a convenient and popular payment method for funding your account. However, offshore sites may charge fees for processing deposits or withdrawals – and sometimes both – to cards. Here are the different types of cards you may be able to use.
Although deposits can be made by credit and debit cards, withdrawals may not be possible due to some sites or card issuers refusing to process them. Sportsbooks and racebooks may allow you to claim bonuses for betting on Preakness Stakes horses with cards. It’s always a good idea to check before depositing as this is at the discretion of each site.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are the most anonymous way to deposit and withdraw, as you don’t have to share card or bank account details. You will need a crypto wallet before you can send and receive money, however. Here are some of the most used coins at our recommended Preakness Stakes racebooks.
You can often get better bonuses for using cryptos, as sites do not have to pay processing fees to regulated financial institutions. Another big selling point is that withdrawals can be received in your account much earlier, with most bookies processing them in under 24 hours or less. Due to the volatile nature of crypto, however, the amount you hold in your wallet can fluctuate daily.
When learning how to bet on Preakness Stakes, e-wallets are another option to consider. You can deposit and withdraw from your chosen wallet, with processing times for cashouts often less than 48 hours. Not all sites accept e-wallets, however.
E-wallets are becoming less used on gambling sites due to restrictions imposed by processors. For instance, PayPal has prohibited the use of its platform for gambling purposes on many offshore sites. Neteller does not accept US customers leaving very few viable e-wallet options.
Cryptos are probably the best payment method to use when wagering on the Preakness Stakes. But there may be other options available at sites for you to consider. Here are a few alternative banking methods betting sites may offer.
Some sportsbooks may offer one or two other types of payment options. Many will stick to cards, crypto, e-wallets, and perhaps one or two of the above. Wire transfer is often the default withdrawal method if it is not feasible to cash out with the deposit method chosen.
Placing wagers on the Preakness Stakes works the same way as with any horse racing bets. However, you may find more betting options available when compared to less prestigious races. Use this step-by-step guide to bet on the Preakness Stakes.
Whether you decide on a futures or a place bet on Preakness, they are all ultimately horse racing wagers. The easiest to place is a straight “to win” bet, which is a fixed odds wager paying out at the price taken with the sportsbook. Here, we’ll talk through some examples using a $100 wager and more.
Preakness lines at our recommended sportsbooks are displayed in the American odds format. When you place a $100 fixed odds wager, working out your profit is easy when the odds follow a plus sign. Here’s an example showing returns when you factor in your stake.
The odds for National Treasure to win are +400. American odds are based on the returns of a $100 stake, meaning you get $400 for every successful $100 staked on the horse to win.
At +600, Blazing Sevens would pay out $600 in profit for every $100 bet. We can work this out by the +600 – which translates to $600 for every $100 – per the odds format. You get your $100 stake back, too, making it $700 had Blazing Sevens won.
Pari-mutuel odds and bets work differently, with dividends published and paid out after deductions have been taken. Payouts are based on the size of the prize pool and the number of winning tickets for that horse. Here’s 2023’s Preakness Stakes payout schedule for reference:
Program Number | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
1 | National Treasure | $7.80 | $4.00 | $2.60 |
7 | Blazing Sevens | – | $5.00 | $2.80 |
3 | Mage | – | – | $2.40 |
The payouts above are based on a $2 wager. If you bet $100 on National Treasure to win, this means you would see $7,800 profit returned. A $100 place payout for Blazing Sevens comes in at $500 in profit. $100 on Mage to show returns $240 in profit.
Here are the payouts for 2023’s exotic wager winners.
These are generally harder bets to win, representing more of a high risk/high reward to bettors. For every $1 you place on winning exacta, you receive $15.90 in profit. A $100 exacta, therefore, would return $1, 590.
Our experts recommend following these tips to enhance your chances of winning money on the Preakness Stakes. Feel free to add them to your strategy for this year’s main event at the Pimlico Race Course in mid-May.
One of the main advantages of betting on the Preakness Stakes is that the Kentucky Derby has run two weeks prior. This provides a huge slice of data on the performance of horses, jockeys, and stables that KD bettors don’t have. Previous form and pedigree should also be factored in when handicapping contenders.
Backing the Kentucky Derby winner for Baltimore – just because – isn’t a good strategy, whether you have Preakness Stakes tickets or are wagering online. Although some horses may look primed for a shot at the Triple Crown, the shorter track and varying demands on Preakness are different. Size up horses that may have the speed and poise for this track.
You can improve your chances of attaining a higher profit on the Preakness Stakes by taking the best odds available. The easiest way to do this is by comparing odds across our top-rated offshore bookies. You may also consider signing up with one or more site that offers prices for the horses you want to wager on.
We don’t recommend placing all your bankroll on the same horse. Instead, you could realistically take $100 and spread it across three single horses. There are various markets you can bet on aside from horses to win – perhaps one to win, one to place, and one to show may suit you. Or you could throw in a few exotic wagers like trifecta bets or superfectas for variety.
Our in-house experts provide insightful and well-researched picks for the Preakness Stakes. The best part is that you get them 100% free, which may help you get the right bets down. By comparing picks across trusted and esteemed handicappers, you may some trends to influence your bets!
To place wagers on the Preakness Stakes online, you must first sign up for an account with a racebook or sportsbook. Once you have added funds, head over to view the Preakness Stakes odds and lines – from here, you can choose the bets you want to place.
There are several different types of fixed odds and pari-mutuel betting wagers you can place. These include futures, straight wagers like to win or place, exotic wagers like trifectas and superfectas, and pool bets. Knowing how to bet on Preakness Stakes the right way will make it easier to select your picks – you’ll find some helpful information on this page.
Yes, you can bet on your phone with any of our recommended betting sites. You’ll need an account, an internet connection, and real money to bet. You can bet on the Preakness Stakes before the Kentucky Derby, too. One way is to place a Triple Crown special bet, which requires your chosen horse to win the Kentucky and Preakness before also winning at Belmont for a payout.
Our experts have handpicked the best horses to bet on Preakness Stakes this year. These are the competitors that have shown promise in the Kentucky Derby as well as in prep races leading up to this year’s big race at Pimlico Racecourse in mid-May.
Research of both horses and betting markets is a good place to start. Expert handicappers do this, as well as studying lines, researching weather and track conditions, and considering the quality of the horse’s stable and jockey. You can choose to go with the experts or do your own research – sometimes, a combination of both can be effective.
Several factors may play into this. First, the Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious North American horse race – it attracts considerable action from Americans and bettors from around the world. When you consider the larger field size in the KD (usually around 20 to a maximum of 14 in the Preakness), this may also explain why. The Kentucky Derby is also marketed more than its sister race in Baltimore, Maryland.
Adam Haynes is our expert racebook reviewer with years of experience in finding top odds, markets, and bonuses. If you're looking to find the best betting sites for the Preakness Stakes, Adam's advice is always worth considering.
Best Preakness Stakes Betting Sites