Preakness Stakes purse will increase to $2 million in 2024

The purse for the Preakness Stakes will increase to $2 million, up from $1.5 million in 2023, and it will become part of a new three-leg series with a potential bonus payout of $5 million, 1/ST Racing said Friday in a move designed to increase the appeal of Maryland’s signature race. Despite its status as the second jewel in the Triple Crown, the Preakness has struggled to draw top contenders from the Kentucky Derby in recent years because owners and trainers are increasingly reluctant to run their horses on just two weeks’ rest.