Could changes be coming to Triple Crown schedule? Preakness officials are open to the idea
Spacing between the Triple Crown thoroughbred races has been a contentious topic for years, and at least one of the three racetracks involved appears open to change.
Aidan Butler, chief executive officer of 1/ST Racing & Gaming, told Thoroughbred Daily News in a Wednesday report that the company is considering moving the date for the Preakness Stakes to four weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
1/ST Racing & Gaming operates Pimlico Race Course, host track of the Preakness in Baltimore.
“We have discussed it internally and believe it’s in the best interests of horses and horse safety to move the race four weeks after the Kentucky Derby,” Butler said. “This would give horses more time to recover between races to be able to run in the Preakness. Horse safety is more important than tradition. NYRA is aware and considering how this would impact the Belmont. Stay tuned.”
The Triple Crown traditionally is contested over a five-week window – the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, the Preakness two weeks later at Pimlico and the Belmont Stakes three weeks after the Preakness in New York.
But trainers and owners have become more reluctant in recent years to run horses back in such a short period of time. In 2022, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike skipped the Preakness and ran in the Belmont. Kentucky Derby winner Mage was the only horse in this year’s Run for the Roses to go on to the Preakness, finishing third.
The current schedule for the 2024 Triple Crown series is May 4 for the Kentucky Derby, May 18 for the Preakness and June 8 for the Belmont.
If the Preakness is moved four weeks after the Kentucky Derby – which would be June 1 – the Belmont would need to move to late June or perhaps July in order to complete a practical Triple Crown calendar. That race is scheduled next year for June 8.
“NYRA has concerns about fundamental changes to the structure of the Triple Crown,” New York Racing Association spokesperson Pat McKenna told Thoroughbred Daily News. “We have no plans to move the date of the Belmont Stakes.”
Darren Rogers, senior director of communications and media services at Churchill Downs, said track officials had no comment on the Thoroughbred Daily News report.
Justify is the last horse to win the Triple Crown, becoming the 13th in 2018. Sir Barton was the first in 1919.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Preakness Stakes officials open to changing Triple Crown race schedule
