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Preakness was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by the famed leading sire Lexington out of a mare named Bay Leaf. Preakness was from Milton Holbrook Sanford's Preakness Stables in Preakness, Wayne Township, New Jersey.
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Racing Career
Preakness upset the heavily favored colt Foster to win the inaugural Dixie Stakes (then known as the Dinner Party Stakes) on October 25, 1870, the opening day of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. He continued his racing career until age 9 with a record of 19-9-6-2-2. After his retirement from racing he was sold to England to stud. He had a temper, as did his new owner, the Duke of Hamilton. After an altercation, the duke shot and killed the colt, leading to public outcry. As a result, there was a reform in the laws regarding animal treatment. Mr. Sanford, his previous owner donated his trophy from the Dinner Plate Stakes race to the renamed race in his honor.
Preakness Stakes
In honor of winning the first Dixie Stakes, a new stakes race was named in honor of Preakness: The Preakness Stakes.