1979 Preakness Stakes highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1979. The 104th Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule $2 Exacta: (2–3) paid $15.80 1979 Preakness Stakes The 1979 Preakness Stakes was the 104th running of the $235,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 19, 1979, and was televised in the United States on the ABC television network. Spectacular Bid, who was jockeyed by Ronnie Franklin, won the race by six and one half lengths over runner-up Golden Act. Approximate post time was 5:41 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was
2004 Belmont Stakes finishing second in both the Derby and Preakness. His owners had been disappointed in his Preakness performance though, feeling the horse would have done better if he had been closer to the pace. His jockey at the time, Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, disagreed and declined to ride the horse in the Belmont. "I wasn't about to... ride him in the Belmont if it meant following orders I couldn't live with", he said. Alex Solis picked up the mount. Purge was the third choice in the field after winning the Peter Pan Stakes, while Eddington was the next choice after