Will Saturday’s running of the 136th Preakness top any of these? Stay tuned.
1. 1999 » Sunday Silence‘s nose victory over Easy Goer was ranked the best race of the 1980s. They ran together the final quarter mile much like the 1978 Preakness of Affirmed-Alydar. It was a classic California-New York rivalry and the West Coast enjoyed beating the East Coast.
2. 1978 » Affirmed‘s neck triumph over Alydar was the second of three photo finishes in the Triple Crown, all won by Affirmed. They ran alongside the entire stretch and Alydar made his move at the far turn. But Affirmed held a short lead entering the stretch and held off Alydar.
3. 1997 » It was a three-way photo finish with Silver Charm a head over Free House, who was a head better than local favorite Captain Bodgit. Silver Charm edged ahead of Free House in the final yards while Captain Bodgit nearly stole the race in the last strides.
4. 1973 » Secretariat won easily by 2 1/2 lengths after taking the lead midway, but it was a pure joy to watch the greatest horse of the past 60 years do his thing in record time. The race, with only a field of six, set a Maryland racing record with 61,653 in attendance.
5. 1983 » It was a muddy mess in a thunderstorm, but the only Maryland horse to win the Preakness since 1980 shot up the rail to pass five horses entering the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths at 15-1. Deputed Testamony is still the reason why long shot locals enter the race.
