It’s going to be a busy month for all the horse race lovers out there. The 2019 Preakness Stakes will take place on May 18, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The race is the second jewel of the Triple Crown, and it will be broadcasted live on NBC. But unfortunately, the channel is unavailable outside the US.
However, those who live abroad can still stream the event. In this article, we will show you how to unblock NBC with a VPN and watch the 2019 Preakness Stakes from anywhere in the world.
Where Can I Watch the 2019 Preakness Stakes?
NBC is the official broadcaster of the 2019 Preakness Stakes. But due to copyright reasons, the streaming service can only air the race inside the United States. This means that those who live abroad will find a location error message that reads “This content is not available in your location” when they try to watch the race.
That’s because your device’s IP address gives away your geographic location to the internet. So if you live outside NBC’s coverage zone, which is the US, the channel will lock you out.
But there’s nothing to worry about because a virtual private network can help you avoid all that.
How to Watch the 2019 Preakness Stakes Using VPN
A VPN can bypass geo-restrictions by spoofing your physical location. It allows you to connect to a foreign network of your choice and gives a new IP address from that region. This will trick NBC and any other website to think that you are within their coverage range, thus unblocking any restricted material.
Therefore, all you have to do is connect to an American server and thanks to your new IP address, you’ll appear as if you were a US resident.
To make it simpler, just follow the below steps to unblock NBC and stream the 2019 Preakness Stakes:
- Sign up to a VPN service. See the list below for recommendations.
- Download and install the app on your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device. You can also install VPNs on routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
- Sign in and connect to a server from the US.
- Go to WhatIsMyIP.network to see if your IP address has changed.
- See which horse will cross the finish line first.
Best VPNs to Stream the 2019 Preakness Stakes
With cyber threats at large in the digital world, the demand for security tools like VPNs has significantly risen. Therefore, plenty of providers emerged over the past decade, but not all of them provide trustworthy services.
For that reason, we prepared a list of the best VPN brands on the market just in case you are not very familiar with the industry.
- 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Apps For All Your Devices
- 24/7 Live Support
ExpressVPN
A wide array of amazing features puts ExpressVPN at the top of our list. The company has over 1,000 servers in 160 locations across the globe, giving you access to any restricted channel in any region.
Furthermore, it offers top-notch security and privacy features like AES 256-bit encryption. This military-grade protocol guarantees that no one can monitor your online activity, not even your internet service provider. Additional security specs include split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Also, ExpressVPN does not keep or store your data. It clearly states: “We never keep traffic logs, and we also don’t keep any logs that might enable someone to match an IP and timestamp back to a user.”
Moreover, the brand has complete access to Netflix libraries, including the US version. It also allows full torrenting and P2P activity.
IPVanish
IPVanish is our runnerup. AES 256-bit encryption, a no-logging policy, and additional security specs put the brand firmly among the elite class. However, the fact that it is under US jurisdiction laws may be a red flag for some.
Also, the company has a large network of servers, with over 1,200 servers in 60 countries, most of which are in the US and Europe. Moreover, It offers high levels of speed, so streaming live HD programs shouldn’t be a problem.
Furthermore, the brand allows five simultaneous connections under one account, meaning you can use it on multiple devices at the same time.
NordVPN
The bronze medal goes to NordVPN. The Panama-based company adds a little something extra to the security features that its peers use: Onion over VPN and double encryption. These provide an extra piece of security for users who are extremely worried about their safety and privacy online.
Moreover, it has over 5,000 servers in 61 countries, which makes it one of the largest networks in the industry.
About 2019 Preakness Stakes
The 2019 Preakness Stakes will take place on the third Saturday of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is Known among horseplayers as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” because a blanket of yellow flowers is placed across the withers of the winning colt or filly.
The race attracts large attendance among horse race fans, and it’s only surpassed by the Kentucky Derby. Also, it features prize money of $1.5 million.
There have been several winners since the race’s inauguration back in 1873:
Most wins by a jockey:
- 6 – Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 7 – R. Wyndham Walden (1875, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1888)
- 7 – Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
- 7 – Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968, 2013) (also the leading breeder with 7)
As for this year, here are some of the horses that are participating:
- Improbable
- Instagrand
- War of Will
- Game Winner
- Hidden Scroll
How to Stream 2019 Preakness Stakes Online – Conclusion
With the Kentucky Derby taking place on May 4, horse race fans will barely have the time to catch their breaths before the Preakness Stakes kicks off. The race is shaping up to be an exciting one as it is part of the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Therefore, you have to get a VPN, unblock NBC, and watch it no matter where you are.