1996 Preakness Stakes
The 1996 Preakness Stakes was the 121st running of the Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 18, 1996, and was televised in the United States on the ABC television network. Louis Quatorze, who was jockeyed by Pat Day, won the race by three and one quarter lengths over runner-up Skip Away. Approximate post time was 5:33 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run over a fast track in a final time of 1:53-2/5. The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 97,751, this is recorded as second highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1996.
The race did not include Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone, as he was retired five days after his victory, when a bone chip was discovered in his knee. He was the first horse since Bubbling Over in 1926 to be retired immediately following a win in the Kentucky Derby.
Payout
The 121st Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule| Program Number | Horse Name | Win | Place | Show |
| 6 | Louis Quatorze | $19.00 | $7.80 | $5.20 |
| 11 | Skip Away | - | $5.60 | $4.60 |
| 10 | Editor's Note | - | - | $5.00 |
$2 Exacta: paid $104.60
$2 Trifecta: paid $613.40
$1 Superfecta: paid $876.40
The full chart
| Finish Position | Margin | Post Position | Horse name | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Post Time Odds | Purse Earnings |
| 1st | 0 | 6 | Louis Quatorze | Pat Day | Nick Zito | Candren, Cornacchia & Hofmann | 8.50-1 | $650,000 |
| 2nd | 3-1/4 | 11 | Skip Away | Shane Sellers | Hubert Hine | Carolyn H. Hine | 3.30-1 | $200,000 |
| 3rd | 6-1/4 | 10 | Editor's Note | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 6.50-1 | $100,000 |
| 4th | 2 | Cavonnier | Chris McCarron | Bob Baffert | Walter Family Trust | 1.70-1 favorite | $50,000 | |
| 5th | 9 | 3 | Victory Speech | Rene Douglas | D. Wayne Lukas | Susan Magnier | 40.60-1 | |
| 6th | 11 | 4 | In Contention | Alex Solis | Cynthia G. Reese | Noreen Carpenito | 19.00-1 | |
| 7th | 18 | 9 | Prince of Thieves | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Charles Grimm | 4.00-1 | |
| 8th | 1 | Allied Forces | Richard Migliore | Kiaran McLaughlin | Al Tayer Ahmad | 20.10-1 | ||
| 9th | 24 | 5 | Secreto de Estado | Cornelio Velasquez | Alfredo Callejas | Robert Perez | 103.10-1 | |
| 10th | 24-1/4 | 12 | Tour's Big Red | Joe Bravo | Enrique Alonso | William Penn | 48.40-1 | |
| 11th | 25 | 8 | Mixed Count | Edgar Prado | Ronald L. Benshoff | Leonard Pearlstein | 99.30-1 | |
| 12th | 33 | 7 | Feather Box | Jorge Velásquez | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Buckland Farm | 49.60-1 |
- Winning Breeder: Georgia E. Hofmann;
- Final Time: 1:53 2/5 * Record Time for Fastest Preakness
- Track Condition: Fast
- Total Attendance: 97,751