Preakness Stakes post positions: Full draw & odds for the 2022 Triple Crown race

The second leg of the Triple Crown will be taking place on Saturday with the running of the Preakness Stakes. Unfortunately, fans won't have a chance to see Rich Strike fight to win the Triple Crown.

Rich Strike's racing team has decided that the Kentucky Derby winner will sit out of the Preakness. They felt that he wouldn't be ready to race just two weeks after his shocking, whirlwind Derby victory.

So, there won't be a triple crown winner this season. However, racing fans will still get a chance to see some of the world's best racehorses compete for one of horse racing's crown jewels.

Fans will get a first look at the potential shape of the race when the Preakness draw is completed. At that point, it will become clear which member of the 10-field team is racing from each gate. That can have an impact on the winner, as different horses have different starting gate preferences that best suit their styles.

The Preakness draw took place on Monday. Which racehorse is on the rail, and which riders got the most favorable gate? The Sporting News has the full list of starting positions for the 2022 Preakness Stakes.

MORE: Rich Strike joins list of Derby winners not to race at Preakness

Preakness Stakes post positions 2022

The Preakness Stakes draw for 2022 was held on Monday, May 16 at about 4:45 p.m. ET. Simplification was drawn into the No. 1 gate and the fourth-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby will be the rail-sitter for the race.

The race's favorite, Epicenter, will run out of the No. 8 gate, almost on the very outside of this nine-horse field. Early Voting and Secret Oath are the only other racehorses with better than 5-1 odds in this year's field and will run from the Nos. 5 and 4 gates respectively.

Below is a look at where each horse was placed within the starting gate, along with the betting odds for each to win.

MORE: Why Rich Strike bit another horse after Derby win

What is the best post position in horse racing?

The best post position will vary by race and by the type of horse running in each spot. Typically, horses that like more space will prefer to be in high-numbered posts, so they can work more with their space to the outside. Plus, they don't have to be inside the gate as long.

Meanwhile, the shortest path to victory comes on the rail. As such, getting the No. 1 gate can be an advantage, but it can also lead to issues for more claustrophobic horses. Why? Because they not only have to wait in the gate longer, but they are also granted little space to maneuver on either side. So, if they get nervous, they may stray from the crowd and hang back during the race to find space.

As for the race, the Preakness Stakes has a wide distribution of winners. That said, the No. 6 spot has been the most favorable over the years, with that post producing 16 winners since a starting gate was implemented in 1909. The Nos. 4 and 7 gates are close behind, as both have produced 14 winners in that time.

Here is the complete list of Preakness Stakes winners at each post position:

MORE: Rich Strike jockey serving suspension for careless riding days after Kentucky Derby win

Preakness Stakes winners by post position

The Preakness Stakes first implemented a starting gate in 1909. Since then, every gate numbered 1-13 has produced a winner, and every gate numbered 1-8 has produced at least 10 winners.

Since 2000, three gates have produced three winners. They are Gates 1, 4 and 7.

Below is a list of all of the winners at each gate since 1909.

*Preakness divided

1 — (12)

2 — (12)

3 — (12)

4 — (14)

5 — (12)

6 — (16)

7 — (14)

8 — (10)

9 — (4)

10 — (2)

11 — (2)

12 — (3)

13 — (1)