| Surface: | Dirt |
| 84th Preakness Stakes | |
| Horse Race: | The Preakness Stakes |
| Location: | Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Date: | May 16, 1959 |
| Winning Horse: | Royal Orbit |
| Winning Jockey: | William Harmatz |
| Conditions: | Fast |
| Previous: | 1958 |
| Next: | 1960 |
The 1959 Preakness Stakes was the 84th running of the $200,000 Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 16, 1959, and was televised in the United States on the CBS television network. Royal Orbit, who was jockeyed by William Harmatz, won the race by four lengths over runner-up Sword Dancer. Approximate post time was 5:47 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run on a fast track in a final time of 1:57 flat[1] The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 31,506, this is recorded as second highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1959.[2]
The 84th Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule
| Program Number | Horse Name | Win | Place | Show | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Royal Orbit | $15.20 | $5.80 | $4.20 | |
| 7 | Sword Dancer | - | $3.00 | $2.20 | |
| 9 | Dunce | - | - | $4.60 |
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| Finish Position | Margin (lengths) | Post Position | Horse name | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Post Time Odds | Purse Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 6 | Royal Orbit | William Harmatz | Reggie Cornell | Halina Gregory Braunstein | 6.60-1 | $137,800 | |
| 2nd | 4 | 7 | Sword Dancer | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1.70-1 favorite | $30,000 | |
| 3rd | 7 | 9 | Dunce | Sam Boulmetis | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm | 8.30-1 | $15,000 | |
| 4th | 9 1/2 | 1 | Marauder | Richard Lawless | Lester R. Robinson | L. G. Robinson | 198.20-1 | $7,500 | |
| 5th | 11 | 10 | Festival King | Billy Cook | Everett W. Kuykendall | C. B. Fischbach | 225.70-1 | ||
| 6th | 12 | 11 | Our Dad | Nick Shuk | John W. Jacobs | Patrice Jacobs | 32.20-1 | ||
| 7th | 12 1/2 | 5 | Rico Tesio | Chris Rogers | Joseph Piarulli | Briardale Farm | 91.30-1 | ||
| 8th | 14 1/2 | 3 | Manassa Mauler | Ray Broussard | Pancho Martin | Emil Dolce | 11.90-1 | ||
| 9th | 15 1/2 | 2 | First Landing | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | 1.80-1 | |||
| 10th | 21 1/2 | 8 | Open View | Karl Korte | Raymond F. Metcalf | Elkcam Stable | 41.20-1 | ||
| 11th | 22 1/2 | 4 | Sundown II | Larry Adams | Edgar D. Cox | Robert S. Lytle | 174.50-1 |