Laurel Park rarely hosts races at the 1 3/16-mile (9 1/2 furlongs) distance, making the upcoming Preakness Stakes and Grade 3 Pimlico Special notable exceptions. Historically, this distance was more common during the Maryland Million Classic from 1993 to 2008, but since the track’s widening in 2005, only six dirt races at this length have been run, with the last one in 2022. These races show no clear pattern of favorites winning or post 1 starters prevailing, and the course record dates back to 2000 before the track was widened.

The rarity of this distance at Laurel, combined with the track’s current configuration, has led experts to anticipate a potential track record during the upcoming Preakness. Despite the infrequency of 1 3/16-mile races, the historical data and recent conditions suggest that next week’s races could set new benchmarks for this unique distance on Laurel’s main track.