Pimlico releases 2015 stakes schedule

Pimlico Race Course has announced a spring schedule featuring 21 stakes races, including eight graded on Preakness Weekend May 15-16, and two unique bonuses for owners and trainers.

The 140th Preakness (G1), the $1.5 million middle jewel of Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown to be run May 16, will highlight a unique weekend that will include the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for three-year-old fillies, the $300,000 Dixie (G2) for three-year-olds and up on the turf, and the $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for three-year-olds and up.

Preakness weekend will also include two bonuses, one for the possible return of any winner of a Triple Crown event, and another for trainers.


Pimlico will offer a $50,000 bonus to each owner and trainer who runs a horse in the Pimlico Special that has won a previous Triple Crown event. If a horse has won two Triple Crown events, the bonus will be $100,000 to both the trainer and owner.

Meanwhile, Pimlico will offer bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run in a minimum of five stakes and starter races during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.

For trainers to earn any part of the $100,000 point bonus, they must saddle a minimum of five horses in the Preakness, Dixie, Pimlico Special, Black-Eyed Susan, James Murphy, Gallorette (G3), Chick Lang, Sir Barton, Maryland Sprint H. (G3), Jim McKay Turf Sprint, Hilltop, Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3), Miss Preakness (G3), Skipat and The Very One.
Hopefully the ice will be gone by 4/12.

Pimlico releases 2015 stakes schedule
Brisnet


"The stakes schedule for Pimlico as well as the new bonus opportunities show our commitment to Maryland racing, its breeders, owners and horsemen, and our great fans," said the Maryland Jockey Club's Vice President and General Manager Sal Sinatra. "We believe there is great potential and growth in Maryland Thoroughbred racing.

"Obviously, we're excited about Preakness weekend and the tremendous support we get from the state of Maryland, the people of Baltimore, the surrounding communities, and the horsemen. We believe the bonuses offered during Preakness weekend as well as those with our turf starter handicap series will make this a memorable spring."

The stakes schedule will kick off April 18 with six stakes totaling $575,000: the $100,000 Dahlia for fillies and mares at a mile on the turf; the $100,000 Federico Tesio for three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; the $100,000 Primonetta for fillies and mares at six furlongs; the $100,000 Henry S. Clark for three-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf; the $100,000 Stormy Blues for three-year-old fillies going five furlongs on the turf, and the $75,000 Geisha for Maryland-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Preakness Weekend begins May 15 with six stakes, four of them graded, including the Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special, $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff and $150,000 Miss Preakness. On May 16, the 1 3/16 mile Preakness will be supported by seven other stakes: the Dixie, Maryland Sprint, Gallorette, James W. Murphy, Chick Lang, Sir Barton and The Very One.

Racing begins at Pimlico on April 2.