Challenge Opens 12:00 PM ET on May 15
1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em Challenge Part of New Racing Trilogy Connecting Preakness 149, California Crown and 2025 Pegasus World Cup

LAUREL, MD – 1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s most prestigious Thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, announces that free contest entries for the $5 million 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em Challenge are now open.

The 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em Challenge opens at 12:00 p.m. ET today, May 15, and closes at 6:55 p.m. ET on May 18, prior to the post time for the 149th Preakness Stakes. Fans can register and submit their picks for free at www.1st.com/contest or at www.preakness.com/contest.

The 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em Challenge connects racing’s next generation ultimate trilogy, Preakness 149 (May 18 at Pimlico Race Course), California Crown (September 28 at Santa Anita Park) and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup (January 25 at Gulfstream Park). Five million dollars is on the line to successfully pick the first four finishers of each race, in order, for the 149th Preakness Stakes (GI), The California Crown (GI) and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (GI). If there is not a perfect entry, the entry with the most overall points will win a guaranteed $100,000 cash prize.

The 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em Challenge is part of 1/ST’s $25 million racing and incentive series connecting 1/ST’s premier events and iconic venues in Maryland, California and Florida. Preakness 149, California Crown and 2025 Pegasus World Cup will feature more than $12.5 million in elevated purses and $7.5 million in incentives for both dirt and turf participants. In addition to the respective purses ,1/ST is offering a $5 million bonus to the owner(s) of the horse who wins the 149th Preakness Stakes, The California Crown and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. For turf stars, 1/ST will award a $2.5 million bonus, added to the elevated purses, to the connections who win the Dinner Party Stakes (GIII), The California Crown John Henry Turf (GII) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GI).

“The 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em challenge is a great opportunity for new fans and seasoned pros to take a shot at a huge payday, coupled with amazing racing and entertainment experiences across the three events, this is intended to drive excitement for the next 8 months!” said Aidan Butler, President, 1/ST.

Preakness 149 will be broadcast live on NBC/Peacock from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET on race day, Saturday, May 18.

For contest and entry rules, please visit www.1st.com/contest or www.preakness.com/contest.

For more information on Preakness 149, www.preakness.com or visit @PreaknessStakes on social.

To stay connected on The California Crown, visit @californiacrownofficial on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube and @thecalicrown on Snapchat. Tickets for California Crown go on sale in spring 2024.

For more information on the Pegasus World Cup, visit www.pegasusworldcup.com or follow on social @PegasusWorldCup.

1/ST GRAND 3 Pick ‘Em Abbreviated Rules: NO ADDITIONAL PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited by law. This Promotion is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their state of permanent residence, whichever is older, at the time of entry. Promotion begins May 15, 2024, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time ("ET") and ends May 18, 2024, at 6:55 PM ET for Preakness Stakes picks, then reopens September 26, 2024, at 3:00 PM ET and ends September 28, 2024, at 4:00 PM ET for California Crown picks, and then reopens January 21, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET and ends January 25, 2025, at 5:30 PM ET for Pegasus World Cup Dirt picks. Closing times listed are approximate and subject to change based on racing schedule. To enter, go to www.1st.com/contest or www.preakness.com/contest to place your selections of the top four finishers in each respective race (2024 Preakness Stakes, 2024 California Crown, and 2025 Pegasus World Cup Dirt) Grand Prize of $5,000,000, and Secondary Prize of $100,000 (if no Grand Prize is awarded). Odds of winning are based on the number of eligible entries received and timing of submissions. For complete rules and eligibility requirements go to www.1st.com/contest, www.preakness.com/contest or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Sponsor at Pick ‘Em Challenge Contest c/o Neil Johnson, 5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by Facebook, Inc., Twitter, Inc., Instagram, Inc., or NBC Sports/NBCUniversal Media LLC.