Survivor won the first Preakness Stakes, held at Pimlico Race Course in 1873.
The inaugural race took place on October 27, 1873, several years before the Preakness became part of the modern American Triple Crown. Survivor, ridden by jockey G. Barbee, won by a remarkable 10 lengths, setting an early standard for dominant Preakness victories.
The race was named after Preakness, a victorious colt associated with the Dinner Party Stakes, which was held at Pimlico in 1870. The Preakness Stakes was later moved to its traditional position between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Survivor is sometimes confused with later Preakness winners such as War of Will or Secretariat. The inaugural winner was Survivor, and the race’s first running took place in 1873, not 1875, the year often associated with the opening of Pimlico’s present clubhouse era.