Preakness

The Preakness, manufactured by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1936, is an early one-ball horserace payout machine from pinball's formative years. It was designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, offering players a single ball for just five cents.

Gameplay on the Preakness is characterized by 28 trap holes, which added an element of challenge to what would otherwise be a straightforward experience. The machine's compact size, measuring 56 inches long by 26 inches wide, made it well-suited for smaller spaces. Notably, its design and artwork reflect the era in which it was created, showcasing the beginning of pinball's evolution into a visually appealing and engaging form of entertainment. According to Bally's own newsletter, Preakness introduced the four-sectional playfield later used on subsequent horserace games.

Despite limited information available on the Preakness' designer or any notable features beyond its basic mechanics, this machine remains an important piece of pinball history. Its presence in collections and museums serves as a reminder of the sport's humble beginnings and the innovations that paved the way for modern pinball machines.