All 2006 graded stakes to go during Preakness Week
Pimlico Race Course released its spring stakes schedule Friday with a substantial number of positive changes and adjustments from previous seasons.
The schedule for the 31-day spring meet, which runs April 20 to June 10, consists of 27 stakes worth $4.55 million, with the highlight, as usual, being the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness on May 20. Fourteen of the stakes, including all 10 graded races, will be run Preakness week. Nine stakes are on the Preakness card alone.
Purses for 13 stakes were increased, while only one was decreased. Here are other notable changes:
* An increase in the purses for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Dixie Handicap, each from $200,000 to $250,000, and for the Miss Preakness and Maryland BC Sprint from $100,000 to $125,000.
* A change in the name of the Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff to the Allaire duPont BC Distaff and a raise in the purse from $100,000 to $125,000.
* The Baltimore BC Turf Sprint (formerly the Ben Cohen) has been added to the Preakness undercard and the purse has been doubled to $100,000.
* The Woodlawn Stakes has been moved from the Preakness undercard to Kentucky Derby Day (May 6) and the purse has been cut from $100,000 to $75,000.
* The Hoover Stakes has been reinstated after it was dropped from the Laurel Park winter schedule; the Deputed Testamony Stakes has been dropped in favor of the Shine Again for Maryland-bred fillies and mares.
Friday's release follows an agreement reached among the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Pimlico and Laurel, and the two groups that represent the state's horsemen.
Pimlico, which was at the center of Maryland's equine herpesvirus outbreak this winter, will operate on a four-day race week, with 10 races every Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and 11 races on Saturdays. The May 19 and 20 cards each will consist of 13 races.
2006 spring stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.,April 22 | Jim McKay BC Handicap | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | $200,000 |
| Sat.,April 22 | Tesio | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 150,000 |
| Sat.,April 22 | Maryland Stallion Station | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 125,000 |
| Sat.,April 22 | Country Life Farm | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 125,000 |
| Sat.,April 22 | Northview Stallion Station | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 125,000 |
| Sun.,April 23 | Hoover | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 75,000 |
| Sat.,April 29 | Henry Clark | 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 85,000 |
| Sun.,April 30 | Xtra Heat | 3YO F | 5 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Sat.,May 6 | Woodlawn | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,May 13 | Hilltop Breeders' Cup | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 85,000 |
| Fri.,May 19 | Pimlico Special (G1) | 3YO & Up | 1 3/16 miles | 500,000 |
| Fri.,May 19 | Black-Eyed Susan (G2) | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles | 250,000 |
| Fri.,May 19 | Allaire duPont BC Distaff (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 200,000 |
| Fri.,May 19 | Miss Preakness (G3) | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | 125,000 |
| Fri.,May 19 | The Very One | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Preakness (G1) | 3YO | 1 3/16 miles | 1,000,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Dixie (G2) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 250,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Maryland BC Sprint (G3) | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 200,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | William Donald Schaefer (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Gallorette (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Hirsch Jacobs (G3) | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Sir Barton | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Baltimore BC Turf Sprint | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,May 20 | Murmur Farm Starter | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 50,000 |
| Sat.,May 27 | Shine Again* | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 50,000 |
| Sat.,June 3 | Pearl Necklace* | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,June 10 | Skipat | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 75,000 |
* Maryland-breds