TONIGHT’S Preakness Stakes will be run at Laurel Park, 30 miles from its usual home at Pimlico in Baltimore, but still in the state of Maryland.

Pimlico is undergoing a $400 million refurb and is expected to re-open in time for next year’s Preakness, but the grandstand may take another year to complete.

Run over nine and a half furlongs, slightly shorter than the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness has attracted its biggest field in 15 years, with 14 runners declared for the middle leg of US racing’s Triple Crown.

Unusually, there are no horses from the Derby field taking part. Surprise Derby winner Golden Tempo skips the race, so there will be no Triple Crown winner this year.

The favourite Iron Honor comes here following a disappointing run in the Wood Memorial in April, a race for which he started favourite.

He had previously won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. His trainer Chad Brown has won the Preakness twice before.

History was made at Churchill Downs, when Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the race. Now Brittany Russell has a chance to do the same with Taj Mahal in the Preakness.

Taj Mahal comes into the Preakness undefeated, having won three races at Laurel Park, including the Federico Tesio Stakes last month. The trainer’s husband Sheldon Russell rides the colt, who is drawn one, which is not what connections wanted.

Another leading contender is Chip Honcho, trained by Steve Asmussen and the mount of Jose Ortiz, who rode the Derby and Oaks winners at Churchill Downs two weeks ago.

Chip Honcho was a short price when only fifth in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in March. Previously, he had just been touched off in the Grade 2 Risen Star, a race won by Paladin, who was among the Derby favourites before injury ruled him out.

Among the outsiders is Great White, trained by Meathman John Ennis. The $55,000 yearling was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby field after he flipped over behind the stalls and threw jockey Alex Achard to the ground.

The race is due off at midnight GMT and will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing.

Preakness betting: 4 Iron Honor, Chip Honcho, 5 Incredibolt, 6 Taj Mahal, 13/2 Ocelli, 10 Napoleon Solo, 11 Talkin, 14 Pretty Boy Miah, 20 Great White, 25 bar.