How to Qualify for / Enter the 2017 Preakness

The 142nd edition of the Preakness Stakes is set to kick off this Saturday. Always Dreaming is going to be there as a privilege for winning the first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs earlier this month. But aside from winning the Kentucky Derby, there are other requirements a horse and its owner have to accomplish before racing at the Preakness. We tackle some of those below.

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How to Qualify for the Preakness

Field limits

It’s every owner’s dream to put his horse in a Triple Crown race but the Preakness Stakes can’t just accommodate every pony with four functioning legs. The most basic requirement is that that participating horses should be three-years-old.

The committee over at Pimlico has set a limit as to how many will be accepted. The maximum field is set at 14 with a maximum of two entries given to also-eligible horses.

That said, there could be more than 14 total horses nominated for the race and in those instances, the committee will be forced to cut down the list’s size by ranking the horses with the most earnings in graded stakes races and highest career earnings in non-restricted stakes. The winner of the Kentucky Derby doesn’t have to fulfill these qualifications if the owner intends to race at Pimlico.

Owners have to pony up

Getting your horse to race in the Preakness is an expensive endeavor. Owners will have to cough up $15,000 to pass the entry box and squeeze an additional $15,000 out of their fat wallets for starters.

Weight limits

Apart from paying fees, horses should also follow a set weight limit depending on their types. For Colts and Geldings, they should weight no heavier than 126 pounds. For Fillies, the limit is at 121 pounds.

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