Preakness Stakes to air on NBC with changes through 2032

Key Points:

• NBC Sports and the Maryland Jockey Club have extended their partnership to broadcast the Preakness Stakes through 2032, making NBC the longest-running home of the race with a 32-year tenure from 2001 to 2032.
• Starting in 2027, the Preakness Stakes will move to a Sunday, three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, marking the first Sunday running since 1873; the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will be showcased on the preceding Saturday, creating a two-day championship weekend.
• The date change aims to give horses more recovery time between Triple Crown races, encouraging greater participation and enhancing the event's prominence, while also boosting local economic impact during the Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore.
• Maryland has secured the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes with an $85 million investment, ensuring state control over the event's future amid new competing racing series and preserving the race as a key cultural and economic asset.
• Significant state investments are underway to rebuild Pimlico Race Course and develop Laurel Park as a year-round training facility, with officials emphasizing the importance of preserving Maryland’s horse racing heritage and supporting local communities.