Context:

Sovereignty, the three-year-old thoroughbred who recently won the Kentucky Derby, will not participate in the Preakness Stakes but will instead compete in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. Trainer Bill Mott explains that skipping the Preakness allows the horse to have a longer career by spacing out races. The absence of Sovereignty makes the Preakness Stakes, scheduled for May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, an open field for competitors. The post position draw for the race will take place on May 12 and will be available via live stream on the Maryland Racing YouTube channel and Preakness.com, but not on national television. With the list of horses not finalized, several potential contenders have been named, promising an exciting race for fans of horse racing.

Dive Deeper:

• Sovereignty, having secured a victory at the Kentucky Derby, opts out of the Preakness Stakes to preserve his racing career for a longer duration, targeting the Belmont Stakes instead, according to trainer Bill Mott.

• The decision by Sovereignty's team highlights a strategic approach focused on longevity in the racing industry, emphasizing the importance of intervals between major races.

• With Sovereignty not participating, the Preakness Stakes becomes an open contest, increasing anticipation among competitors and spectators for the outcome of the race.

• The Preakness Stakes post position draw is scheduled for May 12 at 7 p.m. ET and will determine the starting positions for the horses, but it will not be broadcast on national TV, only available via online streaming.

• The official race day for the Preakness Stakes is set for May 17, with the event maintaining its traditional timing on the third Saturday in May, and the post time scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET.

• A list of potential horses for the Preakness has been suggested, although the final lineup remains unconfirmed, adding an element of suspense leading up to the event.

• Historically, only 13 horses have achieved the prestigious Triple Crown, with Justify being the latest in 2018, illustrating the challenge and significance of winning all three major races.

• Will Sovereignty continue the chase for the Triple Crown at the Preakness Stakes? Well, we already have an answer before the race has even started.

• The three-year-old thoroughbred will not compete in the Preakness Stakes after winning the Kentucky Derby earlier this month. Bill Mott, Sovereignty's trainer, announced that his horse will jump straight to the Belmont Stakes, which will be held on June 7.

• MORE: How much money did Sovereignty win at the Kentucky Derby?

• "I think over the years, people realize that spacing these horses out a little bit gives you the opportunity to make them last a little longer," Mott said after the Kentucky Derby. "I think we're looking at a career, you know, and you want the career to last more than five weeks."

• With Sovereignty now out of the field, the race is wide open. Before the Preakness Stakes begins, the annual post position draw will establish the starting gate for each horse.

• Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2025 Preakness Stakes post position draw.

• Preakness Stakes post position draw 2025: Date, time

  • Date: Monday, May 12
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  The Preakness Stakes post position draw will occur on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. ET. The race itself will take place on Saturday, May 17.

• Where to watch Preakness Stakes post position draw 2025: TV channel, live stream

  • TV channel: N/A
  • Live stream: Maryland Racing YouTube channel and Preakness.com
  The Preakness Stakes post position draw will not air on a national TV channel. It can be streamed on the Maryland Racing YouTube channel and at Preakness.com.

• Preakness Stakes horses 2025

  The list of participants for the Preakness Stakes has not yet been finalized. The Courier-Journal has offered the names of a few horses that could be lining up at Pimlico Race Course.

• • American Promise*
  • Clever Again
  • Goal Oriented
  • Gosger
  • Heart of Honor
  • Journalism*
  • Pay Billy
  • River Thames
  *Kentucky Derby participant

• When is the Preakness Stakes in 2025?

  • Date: Saturday, May 17
  • Post time: 6:50 p.m. ET
  The 150th Preakness Stakes will be run in its traditional slot on the third Saturday in May. Post time for the race at Pimlico Race Course is set for 6:50 p.m. ET.

• Full list of Triple Crown winners

  A total of 13 horses have won the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes). Justify became the most recent horse to add his name to the record book, pulling off the impressive feat in 2018.

• Here is the full list of Triple Crown winners:

• Year	Horse
  1919	Sir Barton
  1930	Gallant Fox
  1935	Omaha
  1937	War Admiral
  1941	Whirlaway
  1943	Count Fleet
  1946	Assault
  1948	Citation
  1973	Secretariat
  1977	Seattle Slew
  1978	Affirmed
  2015	American Pharoah
  2018	Justify