The Passaic County Historical Society provided a great piece of Wayne history some years ago

A national celebrity was the Preakness horse. Purchased in 1868 by Milton Holbrook Sandford, owner of the Preakness Stables at the corner of Valley Road and Preakness Avenue, for $4,000. On his maiden start Preakness was entered into the "Dinner Plate Stakes" at the new Pimlico race Track in Maryland. Preakness won the first race on October 25th, 1870. In 1873 the Maryland Jockey Club started a new racing classic for three year olds and named it "The Preakness" in honor of the first horse to win a race at Pimlico.

From the Passaic County Historical Society 45th Anniversary Issue (1971) by Alfred P. Cappio