The post-position draw for the $2 million Preakness (G1) is over. For the most part — unlike the Kentucky Derby (G1) — where a horse starts is unlikely to affect how a horse finishes.

What is the most successful Preakness post position?

The Preakness, at 1 3/16 miles, is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the 1 ¼-mile Derby. The field usually numbers about half as many as the 20-horse Derby. And there’s no calvary charge to the first turn.

Since 1909, the most successful post has been post 6 with 17 winners. However, post 6 has produced only one winner since Oxbow in 2013. That was Rombauer in 2021.

In the past nine editions of the Preakness, the winningest post has been post 1 with three: American Pharoah in 2015, War of Will in 2019, and National Treasure in 2023. Prior to American Pharoah’s win, the last winner from post 1 was Tabasco Cat in 1994.

Since 2014, posts 1-7 have each produced at least one Preakness winner.

Preakness winners by year, followed by winning post position:

1909 Effendi 4

1910 Layminster 9

1911 Watervale 1

1912 Col. Holloway 2

1913 Buskin 3

1914 Holiday 6

1915 Rhine Maiden 6

1916 Damrosch 3

1917  Kalitan 12

1918*  War Cloud 8

1918*  Jack Hare Jr. 5

1919 Sir Barton 8

1920 Man O’ War 7

1921 Broomspun 7

1922 Pillory 5

1923 Vigil 8

1924 Nellie Morse 7

1925 Coventry 8

1926 Display 11

1927 Bostonian 4

1928 Victorian 7

1929 Dr. Freeland 6

1930 Gallant Fox 1

1931 Mate 5

1932 Burgoo King 6

1933 Head Play 4

1934 High Quest 1

1935 Omaha 6

1936 Bold Venture 4

1937 War Admiral 1

1938 Dauber 5

1939 Challedon 2

1940 Bimelech 5

1941 Whirlaway 1

1942 Alsab 8

1943 Count Fleet 2

1944 Pensive 2

1945 Polynesian 7

1946 Assault 5

1947 Fautless 2

1948 Citation 4

1949 Capot 1

1950 Hill Prince 1

1951 Bold 6

1952 Blue Man 4

1953 Native Dancer 4

1954 Hasty Road 6

1955 Nashua 5

1956 Fabius 3

1957 Bold Ruler 5

1958 Tim Tam 8

1959 Royal Orbit 6

1960 Bally Ache 1

1961 Carry Back 4

1962 Greek Money 10

1963 Candy Spots 8

1964 Northern Dancer 4

1965 Tom Rolfe 6

1966 Kauai King 3

1967 Damascus 2

1968 Forward Pass 2

1969 Majestic Prince 5

1970 Personality 2

1971 Canonero II  9

1972 Bee Bee Bee 7

1973 Secretariat 3

1974 Little Current 2

1975 Master Derby 3

1976 Elocutionist 5

1977 Seattle Slew 8

1978 Affirmed 6

1979 Spectacular Bid 2

1980 Codex 3

1981 Pleasant Colony 12

1982 Aloma’s Ruler 7

1983 Deputed Testamony 3

1984 Gate Dancer 3

1985 Tank’s Prospect 6

1986 Snow Chief 2

1987 Alysheba 6

1988 Risen Star 3

1989 Sunday Silence 7

1990 Summer Squall 7

1991 Hansel 4

1992 Pine Bluff 4

1993 Prairie Bayou 3

1994 Tabasco Cat 1

1995 Timber Country 7

1996 Louis Quatorze 6

1997 Silver Charm 7

1998 Real Quiet 10

1999 Charismatic 6

2000 Red Bullet 4

2001 Point Given 11

2002 War Emblem 8

2003 Funny Cide 9

2004 Smarty Jones 6

2005 Afleet Alex 12

2006 Bernardini 8

2007 Curlin 4

2008 Big Brown 7

2009 Rachel Alexandra 13

2010 Lookin at Lucky 7

2011 Shackleford 5

2012 I’ll Have Another 9

2013 Oxbow 6

2014 California Chrome 3

2015 American Pharoah 1

2016 Exaggerator 5

2017 Cloud Computing 2

2018 Justify 7

2019 War of Will 1

2020 Swiss Skydiver 4

2021 Rombauer 6

2022 Early Voting 5

2023 National Treasure 1

*Preakness divided

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.