What channel is the Preakness 2027 on?

NBC broadcast — free with any antenna in every US market. Peacock Premium ($7.99/mo) streams. USA Network typically carries the undercard races throughout the day. NBC has held Preakness rights since 2011 — same broadcast partner as the Kentucky Derby.

Saturday May 15, 2027 · scheduled Pimlico reopening

How to watch the 2027 Preakness Stakes — Run for the Black-Eyed Susans, FREE on NBC

Q: When is the 2027 Preakness Stakes?

Saturday May 15, 2027 — exactly two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Post time is approximately 7:01 PM ET. NBC pre-race coverage begins much earlier in the afternoon.

Q: Where is the 2027 Preakness being held?

The rebuilt Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland — scheduled as the reopening race after a complete demolition + reconstruction by the Maryland Stadium Authority. The 2024 Preakness was the last at old Pimlico before demolition. The 2025 and 2026 Preakness races were held at Laurel Park (also in Maryland) as a temporary home. The 2027 race is the planned grand reopening of new Pimlico — but the construction timeline has been a story of its own.

Q: Why did Pimlico get rebuilt?

The Maryland Stadium Authority purchased Pimlico Race Course from The Stronach Group / 1/ST Racing in 2024 after the old track was deemed structurally unsound — sections of the grandstand had been condemned since 2019. The state of Maryland committed $400M+ to demolish the old track and build a modern venue capable of hosting the Preakness for the next 100 years. The old Pimlico was the 2nd-oldest active racetrack in the US (only Saratoga is older).

Q: How long is the Preakness Stakes?

1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs) — slightly shorter than the Kentucky Derby (1.25 miles / 10 furlongs). Race typically takes 1:52–1:56 to complete. Field is 14 horses maximum.

Q: What is the Triple Crown?

Three races: Kentucky Derby (May 1), Preakness Stakes (May 15), Belmont Stakes (June 5). 13 horses have won all three. Most recent: Justify (2018), American Pharoah (2015). The two-week gap between Derby and Preakness is the tightest turnaround in the series.

Q: What is the Black-Eyed Susan?

The Black-Eyed Susan is Maryland's state flower and the Preakness trophy blanket. The winning horse is draped in a blanket of black-eyed Susans — actually yellow daisies hand-painted with black centers, since real black-eyed Susans don't bloom until July. The race is sometimes called 'the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.'

Q: Will the new Pimlico be ready for the 2027 Preakness?

The Maryland Stadium Authority's official target is to reopen Pimlico for the 152nd Preakness on May 15, 2027. Construction began in late 2024. As of June 2026, the project is on schedule per public progress reports, but Preakness organizers have stated Laurel Park remains as a contingency venue. Verify race-week — the venue will be confirmed officially in early 2027.

★ The Black-Eyed Susan · 152nd running · Leg 2 of Triple Crown

Saturday May 15, 2027 · Post 7:01 PM ET

Pimlico Race Course (newly rebuilt) · Baltimore, Maryland · 1 3/16 miles on dirt

FREE on NBC with antenna

⚠ Venue alert — the Pimlico rebuild story

The 2027 Preakness is scheduled as the grand reopening of the rebuilt Pimlico Race Course. The original Pimlico was demolished in late 2024 after the Maryland Stadium Authority bought the track from The Stronach Group/1/ST Racing. The 2025 + 2026 Preakness races were held at Laurel Park as a temporary home. If new-Pimlico construction misses the May 15 deadline, the race would shift back to Laurel Park.

Full Pimlico rebuild backstory — buyout, demolition, construction timeline →

The 152nd Preakness Stakes — "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" — runs Saturday May 15, 2027 at approximately 7:01 PM ET. The race is scheduled as the reopening of the rebuilt Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. It airs on NBC broadcast — FREE with any antenna. The second leg of the American Triple Crown.

★ Quick answer

The 2027 Preakness airs on NBC broadcast — FREE OTA with any antenna. Post time approximately 7:01 PM ET. NBC pre-race coverage starts in the early afternoon, with USA Network undercard races leading up to the main broadcast.

Streaming: Peacock Premium ($7.99) carries the entire NBC broadcast plus undercards. Live-TV bundles (YouTube TV, Hulu+Live, Sling Blue, DirecTV Stream) all carry NBC.

Venue: scheduled to be the reopening of rebuilt Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. If construction misses the deadline, the race shifts to Laurel Park (Maryland) as it was in 2025 + 2026.

1The Pimlico story — buyout, demolition, rebuild

Why the venue saga matters for 2027

Pimlico was the second-oldest active racetrack in America when it was demolished in late 2024 — only Saratoga (1863) was older than Pimlico (1870). The Preakness has been run at Pimlico every year since 1909 (except for a brief stint at Gravesend in NY from 1894-1908). When that 115-year continuity was threatened, the story became as big as the race itself.

2019Pimlico grandstand sections condemned. State inspectors deemed parts of the wooden grandstand unsafe. Closed off for public access. Patches and partial reopenings followed.

2020The Stronach Group threatens to relocate the Preakness to Laurel Park permanently. Maryland state legislators panicked at the prospect of losing a 150-year tradition.

2022Maryland passes $400M+ funding package for a complete Pimlico rebuild. State commits to keeping the Preakness in Baltimore.

2024Maryland Stadium Authority buys Pimlico from 1/ST Racing (Stronach Group rebrand). Final old-Pimlico Preakness held in May 2024 — Seize the Grey won. Demolition begins June 2024.

2025Preakness moves to Laurel Park (also in Maryland) — first time off Pimlico in 116 years. The shift creates massive logistical chaos: betting handles drop, sponsors threaten to pull out, Baltimore officials demand updates.

2026Preakness at Laurel Park year 2. New Pimlico construction continues. State releases monthly progress reports to reassure stakeholders.

2027SCHEDULED: New Pimlico reopens · 152nd Preakness Stakes May 15 as the inaugural race · Laurel Park kept as contingency.

The new Pimlico is being built as a modern 110,000-capacity venue capable of hosting the Preakness for the next century — modeled on the recent Belmont Park renovation playbook. The Stronach Group / 1/ST Racing retained ownership of Laurel Park as part of the deal.

2Race-day timeline (Saturday May 15, 2027)

🏇 Preakness Day at the new Pimlico

10:30 AMTrack gates open · 12 undercard races throughout the day (Preakness card has 14 races total)

12:00 PMUSA Network coverage begins

2:00 PMBlack-Eyed Susan Stakes (Friday) winners' visit + Preakness undercard handicapping

4:30 PMNBC broadcast pre-race show begins

~6:00 PMBlack-Eyed Susan tradition: "Maryland, My Maryland" played (replaced in 2021 — the state changed its anthem after controversy over Confederate references)

7:01 PMPOST TIME · 14 horses · 1 3/16 miles · ~1:55 race time

~7:05 PMWinner's circle · trophy presentation · blanket of yellow daisies hand-painted with black centers

3How to watch — ranked cheapest

Rick's pick

📡 Antenna (FREE) $0/mo + ~$30 antenna

NBC broadcast carries the entire Preakness + pre-race + post-race in HD. Free with any antenna in every US market. Same antenna catches the Derby (May 1), Preakness (May 15), AND every other NBC sport forever.

Shop antennas →

Affiliate link · Mohu Leaf 50 ($45)

🦚 Peacock Premium $7.99/mo

Streams the entire NBC + USA Network coverage live. Cancel after Preakness Day → effective $8. If you got Peacock for the Derby, just don't cancel — one month covers both legs.

Try Peacock →

Affiliate link · $7.99/mo with ads

▶️ YouTube TV $82.99/mo

NBC + USA Network in every US market. 14-day free trial timed to start ~April 30 covers Derby + Preakness both.

Try YouTube TV →

4Watch recent Preakness Stakes races

Highlights from recent editions on NBC Sports' official YouTube channel — including the 2025 + 2026 races at Laurel Park.

🏇

2026 · Laurel Park

Watch 2026 race highlights →

🏇

2025 · Laurel Park

Watch 2025 race highlights →

🏇

2024 · Seize the Grey

Last Preakness at old Pimlico →

5The Triple Crown trail

6History + records

First Preakness: May 27, 1873 at Pimlico · Survivor won under jockey George Barbee. The race is named for Preakness, a New Jersey-bred horse who won the inaugural Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico in 1870.
Fastest Preakness: Secretariat · 1973 · 1:53 · the original timing was 1:54.4 but Maryland Racing Commission corrected it to 1:53 in 2012 after video re-timing
Distance: 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs) since 1925 · slightly shorter than the Derby's 1.25 miles
Field size: Maximum 14 horses (smaller than Derby's 20)
Most wins by a trainer: Bob Baffert — 8 Preakness wins (most recent: Rombauer 2021 trained by Michael McCarthy, but Baffert had won 7 before that)
Recent winners: 2025 [latest] · 2024 Seize the Grey · 2023 National Treasure · 2022 Early Voting · 2021 Rombauer
Black-Eyed Susan tradition: The "blanket" placed on the winner is actually yellow daisies hand-painted with black centers — real black-eyed Susans don't bloom until July, after Preakness Day in mid-May.
The Preakness pole: A weather vane atop the old Pimlico clubhouse was painted in the winning owner's colors after each race. Tradition started 1909. New Pimlico will continue the tradition.

7Common questions

When is the 2027 Preakness Stakes?

Saturday May 15, 2027 · post time ~7:01 PM ET · two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.

What channel is the Preakness on?

NBC broadcast — free with antenna. NBC has held Preakness rights since 2011.

Where is the 2027 Preakness being held?

The rebuilt Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The 2025 + 2026 Preakness were at Laurel Park while old Pimlico was being demolished + rebuilt.

Why did Pimlico get rebuilt?

Maryland Stadium Authority bought Pimlico from 1/ST Racing in 2024 after sections of the old grandstand were condemned. $400M+ rebuild project.

How long is the Preakness Stakes?

1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs) · ~1:52-1:56 race time · 14-horse field max.

What is the Triple Crown?

Kentucky Derby + Preakness + Belmont. 13 horses have won all three. Most recent: Justify (2018).

What is the Black-Eyed Susan?

Maryland's state flower + the Preakness blanket. Actually yellow daisies hand-painted (real black-eyed Susans don't bloom until July).

Will the new Pimlico be ready for the 2027 Preakness?

Maryland Stadium Authority's target. Construction began late 2024. As of June 2026 on schedule. Laurel Park kept as contingency.

8Keep going

Last verified June 9, 2026 against NBC Sports + Maryland Jockey Club + Maryland Stadium Authority public statements. Venue confirmation expected early 2027. Construction timeline monitored quarterly.