Preakness 2025 Payout, Prize Money Payout, Order of Finish and Reaction

After finishing second at the Kentucky Derby, Journalism claimed victory at the 2025 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, setting up a bit of drama ahead of the Belmont, which is scheduled for June 7. Two horses may now have a chance to double-up on jewels of the Triple Crown.

Of course, there will be no Triple Crown winner this year, and the horse racing world knew that well before Saturday's race. After winning the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bill Mott opted to hold Sovereignty out of the Preakness in order to prepare for the Belmont.

"We want to do what’s best for the horse," Mott said, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.

Sovereignty will have to wait another three weeks for his next shot at glory. Journalism, jockey Umberto Rispoli and trainer Michael McCarthy earned their place in history with a thrilling come-from-behind win and aphoto finish with long shot Gosger.

Order of Finish and Prize Money Payout

The total prize purse for the Preakness Stakes did not go up this year was raised to $2 million in 2024, up from $1.5 million the previous year.

The top five finishers received payouts.

1. Journalism - $1.2 million

2. Gosger - $400,000

3. Sandman - $220,000

4. Goal Oriented - $120,000

5. Heart of Honor - $60,000

6. River Thames

7. Pay Billy

8. American Promise

9. Clever Again

Reaction

A big storyline throughout Saturday was centered around Sovereignty's absence and the timeline between Triple Crown races. With trainers regularly choosing to skip the Preakness—which is run just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby—a debate has risen about whether it's time for a change.

Not everyone believes that the current schedule is problematic.

"I love how hard it is to do, which makes it so special," trainer Steve Asmussen said, per Whyno. "And then would it be making it easier? Does it dilute it? That’s a great question. And I think that it’ll continue to be debated."

Of course, seeing the Derby runner-up come from behind and win on Saturday while the Derby winner took time off will do nothing to quiet the debate.

This was also the final Preakness to be run at Pimlico Race Course as we know it. The track, which opened in 1870 and was renovated in the 1950s, is set to be demolished in June.

A redesigned Pimlico will open in 2027, and next year's Preakness is scheduled to be run at Laurel Park. It was fitting to have a race this memorable serve as the final Preakness Stakes at the current track.

For much of the final stretch, it felt like Journalism would have no shot at claiming victory. He was stuck in traffic as Gosger seemingly pulled away, but then Rispoli managed to maneuver, find room and push Journalism to the finish line.

"That's the best race I've run in my life," Rispoli said on the NBC broadcast following the race.

While it would have been nice to see the Triple Crown in play next month at Saratoga, it's virtually impossible to ask for a better finish to Saturday's race.

Now, fans may get to see Journalism and Sovereignty battle at the Belmont for the best two out of three.

For fans who backed Journalism or the other top finishers, the payout for Saturday's race was as follows, according to Blake Schuster of USA Today:

$2 Payout (Win, Place, Show)

Journalism $4, $2.80, $2.40

Gosger N/A, $9, $5.40

Sandman N/A, N/A, $3.60

A $2 exacta paid $16.90, while a $1 trifecta paid $73.50 and a $1 superfecta paid $303.40.