The upcoming Preakness Stakes undercard will feature a standout event, the $250,000 Dinner Party (G3) at Pimlico Race Course on May 17, 2025. This prestigious 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and older is a major highlight on the Preakness Day card, which includes nine stakes races totaling $1.3 million in prize money. The Dinner Party is one of four graded stakes races on the day, bringing together top-tier competitors from around the country.
Among the 40 horses nominated for this year’s Dinner Party, defending champion Balnikhov stands out as a key contender. The 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding made a dramatic late surge to secure a 1 ½-length victory in last year’s race. He has since continued to impress, placing in three subsequent Grade 2 turf stakes. However, Balnikhov will face stiff competition, with other notable nominees including Tawny Port, Trikari, and Neat. Tawny Port, a two-time graded stakes winner, has transitioned from dirt to grass racing, where he has remained competitive, finishing narrowly in several graded stakes events. Trikari, who won four graded stakes in 2024, including the prestigious Belmont Derby, enters the race with momentum, having finished third in the Maker’s Mark Mile this past April. Meanwhile, Neat is on the cusp of becoming a millionaire, boasting impressive wins in graded races like the Transylvania (G3) and the Manila (G3).
The Dinner Party has a rich history, dating back to 1870, and has seen multiple changes in its distance over the years. The race originally debuted at two miles and has evolved in length before returning to its current 1 1/8-mile format in 2023. This event is not just about the horses, but also the history that surrounds it, as Pimlico’s oldest stakes race continues to attract elite competitors.
Aside from the Dinner Party, the undercard of the Preakness Stakes will feature several other exciting races, including the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up, which has 31 nominations, and the $150,000 Gallorette (G3), a race for fillies and mares. There will also be a strong lineup for the $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint, a five-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, and the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds going a mile on turf.
The Preakness Day races are a highlight of the racing calendar, attracting top-tier competitors from around the world. With an array of stakes events scheduled, the action promises to be thrilling, culminating in the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Entries and post positions for these races will be drawn on May 12, adding further anticipation for the big day.
As one of the most prestigious days in American racing, Preakness Stakes day also highlights the growing commitment to aftercare programs and the well-being of retired horses, a cause championed by The Stronach Group and its 1/ST Horse Care initiative. This dedication to the future of the sport ensures that Preakness Day is not just a celebration of racing, but also of the care and safety of the horses that make it all possible.
