Best Preakness Stakes Betting Sites for 2025
Updated: 2025
Very few races on the Thoroughbred horse racing schedule hold the same kind of import as the Preakness Stakes. That’s why it’s a good idea for horse racing betting enthusiasts to scope out the best Preakness Stakes betting sites. In that way, you can make sure you can get your wager down while enjoying this grand spectacle.
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Horse racing is the kind of sport that either inspires great enthusiasm or a relative shrug from modern sports fans. But no matter where you fall on that spectrum, you probably have the Preakness Stakes on your radar. After all, it is one of the few horse races that is known to just about everyone, casual and die-hard fans alike.
Of course, one of the aspects of the Preakness Stakes that sets it apart is its inclusion as the middle leg of the Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred racing. The excitement that the Triple Crown races generate is undeniable. This is especially true when a horse captures the public's imagination and has a chance to become one of the rare horses to win all three races of the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes being the other two).
But the Preakness Stakes, held each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, would be a jewel of the horse racing season even apart from its status as a Triple Crown race. After all, how many races have been around for nearly 150 years? And by the same token, how many races can boast a $1.5 million purse for the winner?
On top of all that, the reason you need to find the best Preakness Stakes betting site for you is because the race is excellent for betting purposes. In some cases, the betting attention is dominated by a huge favorite, which means you can find great value if that favorite upsets. There are also years when the Preakness Stakes is more of a wide open affair, which opens up great betting opportunities.
We'll examine the safest Preakness Stakes betting sites and how you can determine those sites for yourself. We'll also take an in-depth look at what makes the Preakness Stakes one of the premier races not only in America, but in the world.
How to Choose the Best Preakness Stakes Betting Sites
Because it's such an important race, you'll find tons of Preakness Stakes gambling sites available to you. But it's important that you only deposit your wagering money at sites that you can trust to provide you with an excellent wagering experience.
All of these sites have been vetted and rigorously tested by us. They have been around long enough for us to know that they can be trusted, and they have excellent reputations among their customers. While no site is perfect, these Preakness Stakes betting sites are the ones you can feel comfortable with.
But what if you find a site not listed here that seems legitimate and reliable? Should you trust them with your money? Only if you ask it these questions first and like the answers you get:
What Is Their Reputation for Customer Service?
This should be at the top of your list of concerns. You're going to be entrusting your money to this site, and you need to know that you can contact someone if something goes wrong. Look for clearly displayed contact information. You should also contact them before you sign up so that you can get a feel for how they deal with people.
Can I Trust That My Bet Will Be Made Without a Hitch?
Even if the people running a Preakness Stakes online racebook are on the level, it won't do you much good if their site's technical capabilities are lacking. That's why you should look for a way to test the site before you commit, to see if there are any glitches. Many sites offer free bets when you sign up, which will allow you to navigate the site and see if it runs smoothly.
What Can the Preakness Stakes Betting Site in Question Offer Me?
Bonuses and perks are commonplace among gambling sites. If you come across a site that doesn't offer any of these, you should be wary because it could mean that they are some sort of rogue operation. Likewise, you should be concerned if the offers you receive seem too good to be true.
What Is the Policy for Withdrawals and Deposits?
It is important to know the minimum deposit requirements from the start. Even more important is knowing how to collect your winnings when you want to. Make sure that the Preakness Stakes betting site's policy isn't too restrictive for you.
What Other Sports or Casino Entertainments Can I Gamble on at This Site?
Many Preakness Stakes gambling sites focus on horse racing and not much else. This can be a problem if you want to continue playing and want some variety. If that's you, look for sites that offer a diverse sportsbook and also give you access to casino games like blackjack, video poker and slots.
You may have other specific requirements for the Preakness Stakes racebook of your choice. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. And don't be afraid to walk away if you don't like the answer you get.
Betting on the Preakness Stakes
First, you need to decide what type of bet you want to make on the Preakness Stakes. The most common bet is to simply pick a horse to win. In this case, the odds on the horse, as listed at online Preakness betting sites, will determine how much you win if you're correct with your pick.
For example, if you are betting on horse racing and you pick a horse to win at a site with Preakness Stakes odds of 7 to 2, this means that you will win $7 for every $2 you bet. You would walk away with $9, which is $7 in winnings plus the return of your original $2 bet.
Picking a horse to win may seem difficult, especially when there are a dozen or more horses to choose from at the best Preakness Stakes betting sites. That's why you may want to consider betting on a horse to place or show. With a place bet, your horse must finish first or second to win, while a show bet wins if your pick finishes first, second or third.
These bets generally won't make you as much money as a win bet. But they give you a better chance of getting some money back on your bet. And if you pick a long shot, you can still make a decent profit this way.
If you're the type of person who likes more of a thrill and wants the opportunity to potentially win a lot of money on a single bet, exotic betting might be more your speed. Exotic bets for Preakness Stakes betting online are characterized by the fact that multiple horses are involved. Even with a small bet, you could potentially win a lot of money.
A common exotic bet is the exacta. In an exacta, you have to pick two horses to finish first and second in the race. If you box that pick, you win if they finish in the top two in any order, while a straight bet means you have to get them in their exact order.
Trifectas and superfectas work the same way, except they require you to have the first three and the first four horses in order as part of your wager. There are also bets like the Daily Double or Pick 3 that require you to pick the winner of multiple races to win the bet. You'll probably be able to find the Preakness Stakes as part of such a wager at Preakness Stakes betting sites, as it is such a popular race.
Remember that when you go to bet, whether it's at a physical location like an off-track betting center or on a Preakness Stakes gambling website, you need to know the numbers of each horse you want to pick. You should also know the number of the race that the Preakness is being run that day at Pimlico. All of this may be required of you when you go to bet on the race, so you should get a program page to find out all of this information.
Hundreds of horse races take place around the world every day. Yet we don't talk about betting sites for those specific races in the same way that we talk about Preakness Stakes betting sites. This should tell you a little bit about the special nature of the Preakness Stakes and the betting opportunities it offers.
Examining the Importance of the Preakness Stakes
All you have to do is say the words "The Preakness" to a horse racing fan and they'll know what you're talking about. Horse racing is built on tradition, and this race is full of it. The Preakness Stakes is where Secretariat scored his incredible victory in the second race of the 1973 Triple Crown.
Before we get into all that, we need to talk about the specifics of the race so that you'll know them when you visit a Preakness Stakes betting site. The Preakness Stakes is held annually on the third Saturday of May in Baltimore, Maryland at the venerable Pimlico Race Course. It is open to 3-year-old horses only. The horses travel a distance of 1 3/16 miles on the dirt track, which takes them around two turns.
The purse tends to go up every couple of years or so; most recently it was $1.5 million. It's a Grade 1 event, which is the highest classification for racing in the United States. And as we'll talk about later, the Preakness Stakes is the middle race in the three-race series for three-year-olds known as the Triple Crown.
If you want to learn more about the history and tradition of the Preakness Stakes, we suggest you check out our Preakness Stakes guide. But in this space, we can give you the most telling reasons why this race is so revered by horse racing fans and why Preakness Stakes betting sites are so popular. And while history is certainly important, the Preakness still captures the imagination of horse racing fans today.
Preakness Stakes History as a Popular Betting Race
The first Preakness Stakes was run in 1873, and the race has been run every year since, with few exceptions. Although it spent some time in New York, the race was first run at Pimlico and has been run there exclusively since the early 20th century. And it actually predates the Kentucky Derby, the race that many casual fans think of first when they talk about famous American horse races.
Pimlico remains an intriguing place, with some track biases and quirks that will help you pick the right horse at Preakness betting sites. Many of the best 3-year-olds of all time have made their way around the oval and come out on top. Conversely, many incredible performers have lined up for the Preakness and left later in the day in disappointment, having fallen victim to a better horse or bad luck.
In fact, it takes more than just a great horse to win the Preakness Stakes, and these extra factors will also play into your selections at the Preakness Stakes betting sites. The horse must also have great connections, which is the term used to describe the owners, trainers and jockeys who help guide the horse to victory. Many of these people associated with Preakness Stakes winners are among the most famous in their profession, a veritable who's who in the annals of horse racing.
To win a Preakness Stakes, everyone from the people behind the scenes to the horses on the track must be at their best. And even then, sometimes it's not enough. That's part of what makes picking the right horse at Preakness Stakes betting sites such an exciting challenge.
As we mentioned earlier, the Preakness Stakes is rare in that it captures the attention of more than just regular horse racing fans. It's a worldwide sporting event. And as such, it also basks in far more betting attention at the top horse racing betting sites than your average horse race.
In many cases, buildings that simulcast horse racing are filled to capacity during the Preakness Stakes. Many of these locations even take on a special atmosphere as if they are hosting the race, with special promotions and customers dressed to the nines. At the heart of all the festivities is betting.
Why People Love Betting on the Preakness Stakes
There are obviously a lot of people at the actual Preakness Stakes that are live at Pimlico. Then you have the secondary crowd at off-track betting facilities. Finally, there are those who will be betting online at Preakness Stakes betting sites.
As you might expect, a lot of money changes hands on the day of the Preakness Stakes. In 2018, for example, the handle on the Preakness Stakes alone was just shy of $62 million, and that record-breaking number seems to grow every year.
Some people preparing to bet at Preakness Stakes betting sites may look at the Preakness Stakes and think that it is the easiest of the three Triple Crown races to win. After all, it is the shortest of the three. And the fields are usually much smaller than in the Kentucky Derby.
Well, all of that may be true, but these factors can also work against a Kentucky Derby winner. Many Derby winners are bred to cover a lot of ground on the track. But the 1 3/16-mile distance, which is rare in Thoroughbred racing, can sometimes seem a bit short for a Derby champion.
Why Winning the Preakness Is so Hard
The shorter distance places a greater premium on early speed than any of the other Triple Crown races, something you need to keep in mind when betting on the Preakness Stakes at bookmakers. That doesn't mean that a horse can't come off the pace and win the Preakness. But it's a good idea for a horse to stay somewhat close to the early pace so he doesn't run out of room when he tries to make a valiant comeback.
In addition, the smaller fields can sometimes play into the bias for speed horses. Fewer horses in the field means less need to get good position by burning to the front. This can lead to a leisurely pace and the horses at the front can maintain their speed all the way home instead of tiring in the stretch.
Finally, the short, two-week break between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes is something to consider when evaluating Derby horses at Preakness betting sites. There may not be another time in their careers when these horses have so little time between races. That's just not the way things are done in the world of modern racing.
This means that the horses that skipped the Kentucky Derby may come in much fresher than their counterparts. That's why many a Derby winner has looked listless against fresh competition in the Preakness. A horse that can win two Grade 1 events against the best competition in a span of just two weeks is a rare horse indeed, and one that should be factored into your handicapping efforts at Preakness Stakes online racebooks.
It's fun to watch the Preakness Stakes even if you don't have any money on the race. But the excitement really ramps up when you place a little bet on the race at a Preakness Stakes betting site. There's nothing quite like the thrill of watching the end of a horse race as the horse you're backing crosses the finish line with a legitimate chance to win.
For a novice, it can be intimidating to figure out who to bet in the Preakness Stakes. Fortunately, your program, or racing form, can be extremely helpful.
Choosing Your Horses for the Preakness Stakes
You may just want to pick a horse by its name or your lucky number, and that can be fun. But your best chance of winning on the Preakness Stakes is to take a look at your program and focus on some of these important factors when making your decisions:
Form is just another word for how the horse has been racing lately. This can be determined by his recent finishes, such as wins, places, showings, and off-the-board finishes. You would generally expect any horse that has a chance of winning the Preakness Stakes to be one that comes into the race in top form, since the competition will be so good.
This is a factor you may want to consider more when betting on the Preakness Stakes than the other Triple Crown races. Again, the distance is a bit short for a classic race. A horse with good breakaway speed may be better suited to win this race than the longer Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Form
When looking at a program, it is easy to get carried away by the number of wins and great finishes on a horse's record. But when you're betting at a Preakness Stakes betting site, remember that it's also important that a horse hasn't just cleaned up against weak fields. The horse that wins the Preakness Stakes is usually one that has done well against the best of the best, because that's what he'll be facing in this race.
Speed
We talked above about how horses that just ran in the Kentucky Derby two weeks before the Preakness Stakes might be a little worse for wear. On the other hand, a horse that has had a longer layoff might be in much better shape for the race. Be sure to check the dates of each horse's previous races before making a bet.
Competition
Whenever you're betting on the Preakness, the caliber of the horse's connections should be at the forefront of your mind. You should be aware of the records of the jockeys and trainers associated with each entrant. In many cases, a great ride or a smart training method will have as much to do with a Preakness victory as the quality of the horse itself.
Most programs will list a horse's father, mother and grandfather. This is important because pedigree often determines how well a horse will perform. Look for horses with strong bloodlines, especially if you have a hard time splitting the difference between two horses for the race.
Freshness
Many forms of horse racing include what are known as speed figures. Speed figures attempt to put a numerical value on a horse's performance based on factors such as the trip, the pace of the race, the condition of the track, the caliber of the competition, and much more. Think of speed figures as an all-encompassing statistic that can help you separate horses from each other when visiting Preakness Stakes betting sites.
Jockeys and Trainers
When you put all of these factors together, you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from a race. That way, when you go to bet, you're not doing it blindly.
Bloodlines
In most cases, betting will be available as soon as the morning-line odds for the Preakness Stakes are set by the track's oddsmaker, usually a few days before the race. The Preakness Stakes betting sites you find online will likely follow the pari-mutuel betting format used at most racetracks, which means that these odds will change depending on how many people bet on each horse. As a result, you need to be aware that your odds may be different at the start of the race than they were when you first placed your bet.
Statistics
This may depend on the Preakness Stakes betting site. Many will limit you to a certain amount based on the size of the account and their individual policies. As far as a minimum wager, again this may depend on the site, but horse racing generally requires a minimum wager of two dollars.
Online gambling sites have followed the digital revolution to mobile devices. As a result, most of the sites you can find, including the ones we recommend here, allow you to bet on the Preakness Stakes from a variety of devices. And that is crucial when it comes to horse racing betting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preakness Stakes Betting Sites
When Will I Be Able to Make My Bet?
After all, most Preakness Stakes betting sites give you access to many different types of horse racing. These horse races take place at all hours of the day and night. And unless you have a lot of free time on your hands, you probably won't be able to stay close to your computer at all times. Having access to mobile betting will be crucial for you.
How Much Money Can I Wager?
This is not something you should take for granted. Many sites may seem fine on the surface, but they may be hiding the fact that they don't have mobile capability. These kinds of limitations can really be problematic for your online horse racing betting.
Can I Bet on the Preakness Stakes on Mobile Betting Sites?
In addition to looking at all the factors we've listed above, it's a good idea to look for feedback about Preakness Stakes betting sites from outside sources. If you happen to know other horse bettors who gamble online, ask them directly about the sites they frequent. They can give you the lowdown on the pros and cons of the sites available to you.
Other than that, it's a good idea to check out online reviews. Horse racing forums are a good place to start. You can also do an internet search of any Preakness Stakes racebooks that you might find and see what people are saying about them.
It's really important to do as much research as possible before jumping into your choice. You should feel that your bets are in good hands, that you can get your winnings when you want them, and that there is some sort of system in place to hear your complaints. Even the slightest doubt about a particular site should make you consider looking elsewhere.
How Do I Know I Can Trust a Site?
We've already done the in-depth analysis of the sites listed above for you. But if you want to choose a site outside of our recommended list, take the extra steps to make sure it's safe and reliable.
In this article, we have explained how important the Preakness Stakes is in the horse racing world, both as a race with great tradition and as part of the Triple Crown. We've also talked about how to bet on the race and what information you should focus on when making your picks. Finally, we've talked about the importance of finding the safest Preakness Stakes betting sites to trust with your money.
There are few things in the world of gambling as exciting as picking a winning horse. And few races mean as much as the Preakness Stakes. Knowing all this, you really should take the time to choose your Preakness Stakes betting sites wisely. Don't settle for anything less when it comes to choosing your Preakness Stakes betting sites.
And just as a reminder, you should be looking for:
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained just how important the Preakness Stakes is in the horse racing world, both as a race with great tradition and one that is a part of the Triple Crown. We’ve also talked about how to wager on the race and what information you should be concentrating on when you make your picks. Finally, we’ve talked about the importance of finding the safest Preakness Stakes betting sites that you can trust with your money.
There are simply few things in the gambling world quite as exciting as picking a winning horse. And there are few races that mean as much as the Preakness Stakes. Knowing all that, you should really take the time to choose your Preakness Stakes betting sites wisely. Don’t settle for anything less when choosing your Preakness Stakes betting sites.
And just as a reminder, you should be looking for:
- Mobile capability
- Wide variety of betting options
- Respected customer service
- Different methods of funding
- Efficient deposits and withdrawals
- Lucrative bonuses
