So, you’re looking back at the Preakness 2025 time and wondering exactly how the middle jewel of the Triple Crown went down. It was a massive year. The 150th running. Honestly, the atmosphere at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore was a mix of high-octane celebration and a tiny bit of "end of an era" sadness because, well, the old girl is finally getting a makeover.
If you missed the live action on Saturday, May 17, 2025, here is the breakdown of the clock, the winner, and why this specific race was such a big deal for horse racing history.
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The Official Preakness 2025 Time and Results
The main event—the Grade I Preakness Stakes—officially kicked off with a post time of 7:01 p.m. EDT.
While television coverage on NBC started way earlier in the afternoon (around 4:00 p.m. for the main block), everyone was glued to their screens for that seven-o-clock window. The track was fast. The weather was basically perfect for a spring evening in Maryland.
Journalism, a bay colt trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, hit the wire first. He clocked a winning time of 1:55.37 for the 1 3/16-mile distance.
It wasn't a track record—Secretariat’s 1:53.00 from 1973 still stands as the gold standard—but it was a gutsy, professional performance. Journalism came into the race with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby two weeks prior. He went off at nearly even money (1.00) and didn't disappoint his backers, holding off a late surge from Gosger to win by half a length.
The 2025 Preakness Finish Order
- Journalism (1:55.37)
- Gosger (Beaten by 1/2 length)
- Sandman (Beaten by 3 1/4 lengths)
- Goal Oriented
- Heart of Honor
It’s worth noting that the Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, actually skipped this race. That’s becoming a bit of a trend lately, which is kind of a bummer for those of us who love a Triple Crown chase, but it opened the door for Journalism to prove he was the best three-year-old in the country that day.
Why the 150th Preakness Felt Different
Usually, the Preakness is known as the "party" leg of the Triple Crown. The infield is legendary (and sometimes a bit rowdy), and the "Black-Eyed Susans" flow pretty freely. But in 2025, there was a different weight to the event.
Basically, this was the "Last Call" for the historic version of Pimlico.
State leaders and the Maryland Stadium Authority had already approved a massive $400 million redevelopment plan. Only weeks after Journalism crossed the finish line, the demolition crews moved in. On July 24, 2025, they started tearing down the old barns and outbuildings.
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If you were there for the Preakness 2025 time, you were one of the last people to see the grandstand in its original, albeit aging, glory. Because of the construction, the Preakness is moving to Laurel Park for 2026 before returning to a brand-new, modernized Pimlico in 2027.
Surprising Details from the Day
- The Purse: The total prize money was a cool $2 million. Journalism’s owners (a big syndicate including Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPenta) took home $1.2 million of that.
- The Attendance: Despite the "condemned" status of parts of the old grandstand, the crowd was electric. They used a lot of temporary structures in the infield and along the stretch to make sure the 150th anniversary felt as big as it deserved to be.
- The Underdog: Pay Billy, a 20-1 longshot who had won the Federico Tesio Stakes, put up a decent fight early on but ultimately finished toward the back.
Betting and Payouts
For the folks who had a few bucks on the race, the payouts weren't exactly life-changing because the favorite won.
A $1 Exacta (2-9) paid out $16.90.
The $1 Trifecta (2-9-7) was a bit better at $73.50.
If you managed to nail the Superfecta with Goal Oriented in the fourth spot, you walked away with $303.40 for a dollar bet. Not bad for two minutes of work, right?
What to Do Now
If you’re tracking the history of these horses, keep a close eye on Journalism. After the Preakness, his status for the Belmont Stakes was the biggest question in the sport. Trainer Michael McCarthy has been careful with him, but that 108 speed rating from his Santa Anita Derby win earlier in the year proves he’s the real deal.
For those planning to attend future races, remember that Preakness 151 (2026) will not be at Pimlico. You’ll want to book your hotels near Laurel, Maryland, instead of Baltimore.
To stay ahead of the curve for the next Triple Crown season:
- Monitor the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings starting in the fall.
- Check the progress of the Pimlico reconstruction via the Maryland Stadium Authority website if you’re a fan of the historic venue.
- Look for "Journalism" in the entries for major summer stakes like the Travers at Saratoga to see if he can maintain his status as the leader of the division.