The 2026 Preakness Stakes is not just another stop on the Triple Crown calendar. This year’s race brings a rare mix of venue change, a missing Kentucky Derby winner, a full 14-horse field and a betting board that looks far more open than usual.
The 151st running of the Preakness Stakes will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. The race is being staged away from Pimlico Race Course while the historic Baltimore venue undergoes renovation work. That temporary switch gives this year’s Preakness a different setting, but the stakes remain familiar: a Grade 1 race, a $2 million purse and a chance for one three-year-old to take control of the post-Derby conversation.
The Preakness Stakes post time is expected around 6:50 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the race on NBC and stream it on Peacock. Peacock’s early coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET, while NBC and Peacock carry the main broadcast from 4 p.m. ET. The race will be run over 1 3/16 miles, the traditional Preakness distance.
For official race-day timing and broadcast information, NBC Sports has published its 2026 Preakness Stakes field, odds and viewing guide.
The biggest change to the race came before the field even entered the starting gate. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness. Trainer Cherie DeVaux chose to give the colt more recovery time and point toward the Belmont Stakes on June 6. That decision removes the possibility of a Triple Crown sweep and turns the Preakness into a fresh contest rather than a Derby rematch built around one star.
Golden Tempo’s absence also changes the psychology of the race. Instead of every rival trying to beat the Derby winner, the field now looks more balanced. Iron Honor is the morning-line favorite at 9-2, but several contenders sit close behind. That makes the 2026 Preakness a race where pace, post position and trip could matter as much as reputation.
Iron Honor leads the betting, but the field looks open
Iron Honor will break from post No. 9 for trainer Chad Brown, with Flavien Prat riding. His 9-2 price makes him the favorite, and history gives that position some weight. Favorites have won 74 of the previous 150 Preakness Stakes races, including Journalism in 2025, who ended a six-year drought for betting favorites in the race.
Even so, Iron Honor does not have the profile of an overwhelming favorite. Chip Honcho, Taj Mahal and Incredibolt are all listed at 5-1. Ocelli follows at 6-1, and Napoleon Solo is next at 8-1. That narrow spread near the top suggests bettors are not treating this as a one-horse race.
Ocelli brings one of the most relevant recent form lines after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby. Incredibolt also exits the Derby, where he finished sixth, while Robusta returns after finishing 14th. Great White was scratched from the Derby but gets another chance on the Triple Crown stage.
Chip Honcho is one of the most interesting horses in the field because his price reflects both respect and uncertainty. He has Jose Ortiz aboard and starts from post No. 6, historically the most successful Preakness post with 17 winners. But his recent form has not been completely smooth. After winning twice late in 2025, he finished fourth in the Lecomte Stakes, second in the Risen Star Stakes and fifth in the Louisiana Derby. He has not raced since March.
Napoleon Solo may attract attention from bettors looking beyond the obvious names. He starts from post No. 10, a gate that has not produced a Preakness winner since Real Quiet in 1998. Still, he owns early-career quality, including wins in his first two starts and a Grade 1 Champagne Stakes victory at Aqueduct. His recent fifth-place finishes in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial add risk, but his 8-1 odds give him value appeal in a race without a dominant favorite.
Full 2026 Preakness Stakes field, posts and odds
No. 1 Taj Mahal — 5-1
Jockey: Sheldon Russell | Trainer: Brittany Russell
Taj Mahal did not run in the Kentucky Derby and starts from the rail as one of the leading contenders.
No. 2 Ocelli — 6-1
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione | Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Ocelli finished third in the Kentucky Derby and brings proven classic-race form into Laurel Park.
No. 3 Crupper — 30-1
Jockey: Junior Alvarado | Trainer: Donnie K. Von Hemel
Crupper enters as one of the longer-priced runners and did not compete in the Derby.
No. 4 Robusta — 30-1
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano | Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Robusta finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby and needs a major rebound to threaten here.
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No. 5 Talkin — 20-1
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. | Trainer: Danny Gargan
Talkin did not run in the Derby but has a top jockey assignment that could draw interest in exotic bets.
No. 6 Chip Honcho — 5-1
Jockey: Jose Ortiz | Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Chip Honcho has a favorable post and strong connections, though his recent race pattern raises questions.
No. 7 The Hell We Did — 15-1
Jockey: Luis Saez | Trainer: Todd Fincher
The Hell We Did enters at mid-range odds and did not run in the Kentucky Derby.
No. 8 Bull By The Horns — 30-1
Jockey: Micah Husbands | Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Bull By The Horns is a longshot who would need the race shape to fall his way.
No. 9 Iron Honor — 9-2
Jockey: Flavien Prat | Trainer: Chad Brown
The favorite has a strong rider-trainer pairing and carries the clearest market support.
No. 10 Napoleon Solo — 8-1
Jockey: Paco Lopez | Trainer: Chad Summers
Napoleon Solo has a tricky post but enough back class to be considered a value contender.
No. 11 Corona De Oro — 30-1
Jockey: John Velazquez | Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Corona De Oro is another longshot, though the jockey booking adds experience.
No. 12 Incredibolt — 5-1
Jockey: Jaime Torres | Trainer: Riley Mott
Incredibolt finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and is among the top betting choices despite the wide draw.
No. 13 Great White — 15-1
Jockey: Alex Achard | Trainer: John Ennis
Great White was scratched from the Derby and now gets a chance to prove himself in the Preakness.
No. 14 Pretty Boy Miah — 15-1
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. | Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Pretty Boy Miah starts from the outside gate, which makes early positioning important.
Why this Preakness matters beyond one race
This year’s Preakness comes at a time when horse racing’s biggest events are being reexamined commercially and structurally. The temporary move to Laurel Park is one visible change, but the broader Triple Crown picture is also shifting. Swikblog previously reported on how the Churchill Downs and Preakness deal could reshape the Triple Crown schedule, making the 2026 race feel like part of a larger transition for the sport.
For casual viewers, the key question is simple: who takes advantage of Golden Tempo’s absence? Iron Honor has the favorite’s role, Ocelli has the Derby form, Chip Honcho has a strong post and top jockey, while Incredibolt, Taj Mahal and Napoleon Solo all have realistic paths into the race.
The Preakness often rewards horses that can travel smoothly, avoid traffic and make one decisive move before the stretch. With 14 runners at Laurel Park, those details become even more important. A wide trip, a slow break or an early pace battle could quickly change the outcome.
That is what makes the 2026 edition compelling. It is not built around a Triple Crown bid, but around uncertainty. The Derby winner is waiting for Belmont, the favorite is not unbeatable, and several contenders have enough upside to create a surprise result. By Saturday evening, the Triple Crown season could have a new leading name.
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