1989 Preakness Stakes top attended events for North America in 1989. Jim McKay of ABC Sports labeled it "the best race that I have ever witnessed" during the 1995 Preakness telecast. The stretch duel of the race itself was featured on ABC's "Wide World of Sports prelude claiming to be the ""thrill of victory"" for 12 years. It preceded the more memorable line ""and the agony of defeat"". The 114th Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule $2 Exacta: (8–2) paid $10.40 $2 Trifecta: (8-2–5) paid $66.00 1989 Preakness Stakes The 1989 Preakness Stakes was the 114th running of the Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The
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