History is about to be made at the 2026 Preakness Stakes. For the first time ever, the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown will be run at Laurel Park in Maryland on Saturday, May 16. With Pimlico Race Course—the iconic "Old Hilltop"—undergoing a major renovation, the action shifts to this historic oval on the eastern seaboard.

Post time for the 151st running of the Preakness is set for 7:01 p.m. Eastern, but the party starts much earlier. The first race of the day goes off at 10:30 a.m., and the full card features nine stakes races among fourteen total events. Four of those stakes will be run on grass, offering a diverse and thrilling day of Thoroughbred racing.

This year's field has a different feel than usual. Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo and runner-up Renegade have both opted to skip the Preakness, instead pointing toward the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. That means only three Derby starters—Ocelli, Incredibolt, and Robusta—will make the trip to Maryland. But don't let that fool you: a full field of fourteen entrants is ready to battle for Grade 1 glory and a share of the $2 million purse.

One horse drawing plenty of attention is Taj Mahal, a non-Derby runner who is unbeaten in three career starts—all of them at Laurel Park. Could home-track advantage make the difference in this wide-open race?

Whether you're tuning in for the fashion, the pageantry, or the pure athleticism of these three-year-olds, the 2026 Preakness promises to be a celebration of everything that makes horse racing great. Television coverage begins at 1 p.m. Eastern on Peacock and NBCSN for the undercard, with NBC and Peacock taking over at 4 p.m. Eastern for the main event. Mark your calendar, grab your finest race-day gear, and get ready for an unforgettable evening under the Maryland lights.