1971 Preakness Stakes list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1971. The 96th Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule 1971 Preakness Stakes The 1971 Preakness Stakes was the 96th running of the $200,000 Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 15, 1971, and was televised in the United States on the CBS television network. Canonero II, who was jockeyed by Gustavo Avila, won the race by one and one half lengths over runner-up Eastern Fleet. Approximate post time was 5:40 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run on a fast track in a final time of
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