🏇 Journalism Delivers a Stunning Victory in the 150th Preakness Stakes

By the time the crowd rose to their feet at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2025, the air wasn’t just filled with the thundering of hooves—it echoed with history.** The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes was more than just a horse race; it was a farewell party, a historic milestone, and a bittersweet finale to a beloved American sporting tradition.

A Historic Send-Off for Pimlico

The 2025 Preakness wasn’t just another leg of the Triple Crown—it was the **last to be run at the storied Pimlico track** before a \$400 million redevelopment project kicks off. Since 1873, this track has hosted legends, heartbreaks, and moments that stitched themselves into the fabric of American racing culture. This year’s edition? A perfect curtain call.

And the star of the show? A horse with a very fitting name: Journalism.

Journalism Writes Its Own Headline

The 8-5 favorite entered the race with buzz, having finished second in the Kentucky Derby just weeks earlier. But when the starting gate opened, it wasn’t a sure thing. Journalism stayed patient, hanging in the middle of the pack for much of the race while **15-1 longshot Gosger** pushed ahead early, setting a blazing pace.

Then came the stretch. With one final push, **jockey Umberto Rispoli** asked for magic—and Journalism delivered. The bay colt surged forward, **blazing past Gosger and crossing the finish line half a length ahead**, clocking in at 1:55.37.

It was a fitting victory for a horse that’s been quietly proving himself all season—and for a jockey who just earned his **first-ever Triple Crown win**. For Rispoli, an Italian-born rider with years of experience around the world, this moment was a career-defining highlight.

“It’s a dream,” he said afterward. “This is what you live for.”

No Sovereignty, No Problem

Notably absent from the lineup was **Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty**, whose team decided to skip the Preakness and aim instead for the Belmont Stakes. That move ensured that 2025 would not crown a Triple Crown winner, but it also opened the door for new rivalries—and fresh narratives.

Trainer **Michael McCarthy**, who previously won the Preakness with Rombauer in 2021, was all smiles as his horse took the winner’s circle. “This horse has always had the heart of a champion,” he said. “Today, he showed the world.”

Gosger held on for a respectable second, while **Sandman**, the 5-1 second favorite, finished third. The remaining runners—Goal Oriented, Heart Of Honor, and others—rounded out a competitive but ultimately predictable field.

With the win, Journalism adds **\$1.2 million in prize money** to his record, bringing his career earnings to over \$2.8 million. More importantly, he has momentum heading into the next big race.

Music, Memories, and the End of an Era

Beyond the track, **Preakness 150 was a celebration**. With live performances from **Grammy-winners T-Pain and Wyclef Jean**, fans were treated to more than just a race. NFL legend **Ray Lewis** hosted the infield party, transforming the day into a festival of Baltimore pride, community, and farewell nostalgia.

The event felt like the closing chapter of a novel—a time to honor Pimlico’s legacy, its worn-down grandstands, and its defiant charm. The upcoming redevelopment aims to transform the space into a state-of-the-art facility, but many fans know something irreplaceable will be left behind in the dust kicked up by horses like Journalism.

What’s Next: Eyes on Saratoga

With the Belmont Stakes just weeks away, all eyes now shift to **Saratoga Race Course**, which will host the third leg of the Triple Crown for the first time due to renovations at Belmont Park. Racing fans are already speculating: Will Sovereignty return? Will Journalism aim for redemption and glory?

What’s clear is that **2025’s Triple Crown season has flipped the script**. The story is no longer about chasing an elusive triple. It’s about rivalries, resilience, and the reinvention of the sport itself.

A Victory for More Than a Horse

At its core, Journalism’s win represents something deeper: **the sport’s continued heartbeat** amid change. In an age of fleeting attention spans and social media distractions, the Preakness proved that there’s still something magical about a well-run race, a well-timed surge, and the roar of a crowd that knows they’ve seen something unforgettable.

As Pimlico’s gates prepare to close, **the 150th Preakness felt like a proper goodbye**—not with silence, but with the thunder of hooves, the buzz of cameras, and the wild, beautiful chaos that only horse racing can deliver.