The 2025 Preakness Stakes promises high stakes, top-tier competition, and all the excitement of Triple Crown racing. For Canadian bettors, it’s a prime opportunity to get involved in one of the sport’s most thrilling events. With more legal wagering options than ever and plenty of ways to stay connected, betting the Second Jewel of the Triple Crown from Canada has never been easier. This guide covers everything you need to make smart, confident bets from start to finish.
The Preakness Stakes is the electrifying middle leg of the Triple Crown and represents far more than just another race. Held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, it’s where champions emerge and contenders fall short. For Canadian bettors, it offers a thrilling chance to join the action, spot value in the field, and rally behind a potential new star.
The Preakness Stakes has long been popular in Canada, thanks to a strong tradition of following and wagering on major American races. It’s easy to watch, easy to bet, and consistently delivers high-stakes drama. With more legal betting platforms available than ever before, Canadian fans can now join the action more seamlessly than ever.
Canadians can legally bet on the Preakness Stakes thanks to a mix of provincial and national rules. Here’s how it works:
• Online Racebooks and Sportsbooks: Most provinces allow betting through licensed online platforms. These sites offer odds, live streams, and special Preakness bets,
• Provincial Regulations: Each province has its own rules. For example, Ontario residents can use Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) and other regulated sites. In Alberta, AGLC PlayAlberta is the main option,
• Advance-Deposit Wagering (ADW): Many top racebooks accept Canadian customers and let you fund your account in CAD.
Looking for a safe place to bet? These platforms are popular with Canadian horseplayers:
• HPIbet (HorsePlayer Interactive),
• Woodbine’s Dark Horse App,
• TVG (for provinces where available),
• Bet365 and Betway (offer horse racing in some provinces).
Always check if the site is regulated in your province and supports Canadian dollars.
1. Sign Up: Choose a reputable racebook and create your account.
2. Deposit Funds: Use Interac, credit/debit cards, or e-wallets.
3. Find the Race: Search for “Preakness Stakes” or “Pimlico” in the betting menu.
4. Pick Your Bet Type: Win, Place, Show, or exotic bets like Exacta.
5. Select Your Horse(s): Click the odds next to your chosen runner.
6. Enter Your Bet Amount: Minimum is usually $2.
7. Confirm and Submit: Double-check your bet and place it.
8. Watch and Enjoy: Tune in live or follow updates on the site.
The Preakness 151 Future Wager lets you bet early on who will win the big race. The pool opens Friday at noon EDT and closes Saturday, May 3 at 6:00 p.m. EDT—about an hour before the Kentucky Derby. The minimum bet is $2.
Here are the leading contenders and their stories:
There are 40 betting options: 39 individual horses plus an “all other 3-year-olds” field at 50-1. For the full list and odds, see the table above.
• Future Wager Pool Opens: Friday, noon EDT,
• Pool Closes: Saturday, May 3, 6:00 p.m. EDT,
• Preakness Race Day: Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Parimutuel wagering, the format used for Preakness Stakes betting, means all bets go into a pool. The odds you see can change until betting closes. When the race ends, the pool is split among winning tickets after the “takeout” (the house fee).
• Minimum Bet: Usually $2,
• Takeout Rate: 18% for the Preakness Future Wager,
• Bet Types:
− Win: Pick the winner,
− Place: Finish 1st or 2nd,
− Show: Finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd,
− Exacta: Pick the top 2 in order,
− Trifecta: Pick the top 3 in order,
− Superfecta: Pick the top 4 in order.
Canadian bets are pooled with others at the track, so you get the same payouts as everyone else.
• Interac e-Transfer: Fast, secure, and in Canadian dollars,
• Credit/Debit Cards: Widely accepted, but may have cash advance fees,
• E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill): Good for privacy and quick transfers.
CAD Support: Many racebooks let you deposit and bet in Canadian dollars,
Conversion Fees: If you must use USD, your bank or card may charge a small fee. Check rates before you deposit or withdraw.
• Use Canadian-friendly sites to avoid conversion,
• Withdraw larger amounts less often to reduce per-transaction charges.
• Look at recent race results, trainer records, and how horses finished in Derby prep races,
• Favourites like Journalism have strong form, but upsets happen!
• Future Wagers: Better odds if you’re right, but riskier since fields can change,
• Race Day Bets: More info on the horses, but odds may be lower for favourites.
• Set a budget for Preakness betting and stick to it,
• Spread your bets—try a mix of Win, Exacta, or Trifecta bets.
• Favourites win more often, but longshots pay bigger,
• Consider including a few 15-1 or 20-1 shots in exotic bets for a chance at a big payout.
The 2025 Preakness Stakes is a must-bet event for Canadians—packed with excitement, value, and easy ways to get involved. Pick a trusted site, do your homework on the contenders, and have fun. For the latest odds and updates as May 17 approaches, keep following your favorite Canadian racebook or sports betting platform.
Photo: Philippe Oursel, Unsplash
