| Surface: | Dirt |
| 81st Preakness Stakes | |
| Horse Race: | The Preakness Stakes |
| Location: | Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Date: | May 19, 1956 |
| Winning Horse: | Fabius |
| Winning Jockey: | William Hartack |
| Conditions: | Fast |
| Previous: | 1955 |
| Next: | 1957 |
The 1956 Preakness Stakes was the 81st running of the $135,000 Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 19, 1956, and was televised on the CBS television network in the United States. Fabius, who was jockeyed by William Hartack, won the race by one and three quarter lengths over runner-up Needles. Approximate post time was 5:46 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run on a fast track in a final time of 1:58
2/5[1] The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 30,714. This is recorded as the second highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1956. It was also the first year Pimlico Race Course began recording attendance figures.[2]The 81st Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule
| Program Number | Horse Name | Win | Place | Show | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Fabius | $7.00 | $2.40 | $2.40 | |
| 6 | Needles | - | $2.20 | $2.20 | |
| 5 | Inside Tract | - | - | $5.60 |
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| Finish Position | Margin (lengths) | Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Post Time Odds | Purse Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 3 | Fabius | William Hartack | Calumet Farm | 2.50-1 | $84,250 | ||
| 2nd | 13/4 | 6 | Needles | David Erb | Hugh L. Fontaine | D. & H. Stable (Jack Dudley & Bonnie Heath) | 0.60-1 favorite | $25,000 | |
| 3rd | 23/4 | 5 | No Regrets | Douglas Dodson | Richard T. Waggoner | Wallace E. Britt | 61.40-1 | $15,000 | |
| 4th | 81/4 | 7 | Golf Ace | Nick Shuk | William G. Williams | Winding Way Farm | 24.40-1 | $7,500 | |
| 5th | 83/4 | 8 | Count Chic | William Boland | Lloyd A. Lawson | Dino A. Lozzi | 11.70-1 | ||
| 6th | 91/2 | 2 | Eiffel Blue | Paul J. Bailey | A. G. (Bob) Robertson | Danny G. Arnstein | 24.00-1 | ||
| 7th | 93/4 | 4 | Come On Red | Alfred Popara | Odie Clelland | Helen W. Kellogg | 21.10-1 | ||
| 8th | 121/4 | 1 | Ratheram | William M. Cook | Abelard Lamoureux | Harvey C. Fruehauf | 56.50-1 | ||
| 9th | 221/4 | 9 | Fleet Peet | William Zakoor | Abelard Lamoureux | Harvey C. Fruehauf | 56.50-1 |