Pimlico Announce $100k Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus 2025
Fresh from triumphing in the 151st Kentucky Derby at the rain-soaked Churchill Downs, the announcement that winner Sovereignty will not compete in the Preakness Stakes has left U.S. horse racing fans without a chance for a Triple Crown winner in 2025.
However, the promising news to emerge from Pimlico is that the lucrative $100,000 "Trainer Bonus" will return for Preakness weekend in 2025.
Sovereignty to Skip Preakness Stakes, Eyes Belmont Stakes
Trainer William Mott revealed on Tuesday, just three days post-Derby, that Sovereignty, the breakout star of this year’s Run for the Roses, will forgo the Preakness Stakes set for Saturday, May 17. As a result, the quest for the Triple Crown—historically a rare achievement with only 13 horses having clinched all three legs—will not be in play this year.
Mott confirmed that Sovereignty, who engaged in a thrilling showdown against Derby favorite Journalism down the Churchill Downs stretch, will now aim for the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the esteemed U.S. Triple Crown series, set for June 7. The last Kentucky Derby winners to also secure the Belmont were 2018 and 2015 Triple Crown champions Justify and American Pharoah. The most recent horse to win only the Derby and Belmont was Thunder Gulch, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, in 1995.
Upcoming Preakness Stakes Information
- 📅 Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
- 🏇 Racecourse: Pimlico
- 💰 Purse/Winner: $2 million / $1.2 million (winner)
- 📺 TV: NBC (Live Stream: YouTube, Peacock, fuboTV)
- 🎲 Preakness Odds 2025: Journalism 5/2 | Rodriguez 5/1 | Sandman 8/1
Trainer Bonus Returns for Preakness Weekend in 2025
While the absence of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is disappointing for Pimlico, the continuation of the $100,000 trainer bonus for a ninth consecutive year offers an exciting incentive for participating barns.
This bonus is available to any trainer with a minimum of five horses running over the Preakness weekend from May 16-17. During this event, 16 stakes races will take place, including eight graded races with a combined purse of $4.35 million, featuring $1.2 million awarded to the Preakness Stakes winner.
The trainer bonus allocation is as follows:
2025 Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus Distribution
- 1st: $50,000
- 2nd: $25,000
- 3rd: $12,000
- 4th: $7,000
- 5th: $4,000
- 6th: $2,000
Understanding the Points System for the Trainer Bonus
Points for the Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus are awarded based on the finishing positions of a trainer’s horses throughout the weekend. To qualify, trainers must have at least five starters:
- 1st: 10 points
- 2nd: 7 points
- 3rd: 5 points
- 4th: 3 points
- Any starter in one of the 15 Thoroughbred Stakes Races: 1 point
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has excelled in the Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus in recent years, capturing the title in four of the first seven years (2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022). Anticipation is high for Asmussen to emerge as the leading trainer once again in 2025. Notably, Cherie DeVaux made history in 2024 as the first female trainer to win the bonus, succeeding seasoned trainers like Brad Cox, Mike Maker, and Graham Motion.
Additionally, there will be a separate $50,000 bonus for trainers accumulating the most points in non-stakes races throughout the weekend, awarded to those with a minimum of three starters.
Non-Stakes Race Bonus Distribution
- 1st: $25,000
- 2nd: $10,000
- 3rd: $7,500
- 4th: $4,000
- 5th: $2,500
- 6th: $1,000
This financial incentive for trainers not only enhances competition but also adds a layer of excitement to an already thrilling Preakness weekend, drawing both participants and fans to celebrate this historic event in horse racing.
About the Author:
Andy Newton is a seasoned betting and gambling journalist with over 20 years of industry experience. He possesses extensive knowledge of the sports betting landscape, particularly in horse racing, making him a trusted voice in the gambling community.
