What you need to know about the Preakness Stakes:
- Starting in 2027, the Preakness Stakes will take place one week later, moving the event three weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
- The Preakness Stakes will now be contested on Sunday rather than Saturday, with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes shifting from Friday to Saturday.
- NBC Sports will continue to broadcast the Preakness Stakes on NBC and Peacock through 2032, making it the first media company to present the race for three decades.
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NBC Sports and the Maryland Jockey Club announced a multi-year extension of their partnership this afternoon, making NBC the longest-running home of the Preakness Stakes. The second jewel of the Triple Crown first aired on NBC in 2001 and is now set to run on the network through 2032.
Beginning in 2027, the Preakness will shift one week later and be held three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, which is synonymous with the first Sunday in May (May 1st, 2027). It will also shift a day later in the weekend, with the Black-Eyed Susan broadcast on Saturday and the Preakness on Sunday.
“The Maryland Jockey Club is thrilled to continue its long-standing partnership with NBC Sports for the Preakness Stakes. We believe that moving the Preakness to the fourth Sunday in May and showcasing the excellent Black-Eyed Susan Stakes card on Saturday will transform the weekend for horsemen, bettors, and racing fans alike,” said Maryland Jockey Club CEO Bill Knauf.
The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Preakness Stakes, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, as well as extensive Preakness weekend programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.
“Governor Moore and the State of Maryland have committed significant resources to racing’s future, including a rebuilt Pimlico on the horizon, a state-of-the-art training center at Laurel Park, the acquisition of the Preakness Stakes Intellectual Property, and a fresh path forward for Maryland’s iconic racing event. Preakness Weekend 2027 marks a new era for the State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, our valued partners in the Park Heights Community, and all the horsemen who have worked diligently to preserve and enhance horse racing in Maryland,” Knauf said in the statement.
NBC Sports also has exclusive, long-term media agreements for the Kentucky Derby through 2032, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships through 2030, and Royal Ascot through 2028.
