1971 Preakness Stakes
The 1971 Preakness Stakes was the 96th running of the $200,000 Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 15, 1971, and was televised in the United States on the CBS television network. Canonero II, who was jockeyed by Gustavo Ávila, won the race by one and one half lengths over runner-up Eastern Fleet. Approximate post time was 5:40 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run on a fast track in a final time of 1:54 flat. The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 47,221, this is recorded as third highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1971.
Payout
The 96th Preakness Stakes Payout Schedule| Program Number | Horse Name | Win | Place | Show |
| 9 | Canonero II | US$8.80 | $6.20 | $4.00 |
| 5 | Eastern Fleet | - | $8.20 | $5.20 |
| 11 | Jim French | – | – | $3.20 |
The full chart
| Finish Position | Margin | Post Position | Horse name | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Post Time Odds | Purse Earnings |
| 1st | 0 | 9 | Canonero II | Gustavo Ávila | Juan Arias | Edgar Caibett | 3.40-1 co-favorite | $137,400 |
| 2nd | 11/2 | 5 | Eastern Fleet | Eddie Maple | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 6.40-1 | $30,000 |
| 3rd | 6 | 11 | Jim French | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John P. Campo | Frank J. Caldwell | 3.40-1 co-favorite | $15,000 |
| 4th | 61/4 | 1 | Sound Off | Chuck Baltazar | Gerald Lord | Gustave Ring | 10.90-1 | $7,500 |
| 5th | 63/4 | 6 | Bold Reason | Jean Cruguet | Angel Penna Sr. | William A. Levin | 12.40-1 | |
| 6th | 123/4 | 7 | Executioner | Jacinto Vásquez | Edward J. Yowell | October House Farm | 3.90-1 | |
| 7th | 131/4 | 8 | Royal J. D. | Eddie Belmonte | Angelo Bertrando | John McCloy Davis | 54.80-1 | |
| 8th | 131/2 | 4 | Vegas Vic | Bill Hartack | Randy Sechrest | Betty Sechrest & Charles Fritz | 10.10-1 | |
| 9th | 133/4 | 3 | Impetuosity | Eric Guerin | George Pool | Wendell P. Rosso | 17.20-1 | |
| 10th | 143/4 | 10 | Spouting Horn | Jack Kurtz | William "Herbie" Edwards Jr. | Walter D. Fletcher | 81.40-1 | |
| 11th | 15 | 2 | Limit to Reason | Jorge Velásquez | Thomas Joseph Kelly | Brookmeade Stable | 15.80-1 |
- Winning Breeder: E. B. Benjamin;
- Winning Time: 1:54 3/5
- Track Condition: Fast
- Total Attendance: '''47,221'''