Does the Preakness Still Matter Without Triple Crown Drama?

The 151st Preakness Stakes is taking place on May 15, and Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is not racing. This makes it three times out of the last five years that the Derby winner will not participate in the second leg of horse racing’s crown jewel. It also guarantees that for the eighth straight year, we will not see a horse win the Triple Crown. 

For now, Justify (2018) remains the last Triple Crown winner. 

What was once considered one of the most prestigious prizes in horse racing doesn't seem to be as meaningful these days. Trainers are prioritizing the horse’s health over racing again on short rest. 

With the recent trend of Kentucky Derby winners skipping the Preakness Stakes, is it finally time to revisit the Triple Crown schedule? We look at why making a change makes sense. 

Why is Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness?

Golden Tempo’s win was historic as it marked the first time in 152 years that a female trainer won the event. Chérie DeVaux watched Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot, come from behind to upset Arkansas Derby winner Renegade. 

Some might add Golden Tempo’s name to the list of biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history. 

DeVaux released a statement following “the race of a lifetime.”

“His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority,” DeVaux said of Golden Tempo. 

The Belmont Stakes, which doesn't take place until June 6, remains a possibility.

Field for 2026 Preakness Stakes is set 

The 2026 Preakness Stakes draw took place earlier this week. The top horse racing betting sites had Iron Honor listed as the morning favorite. Looking at the 14-horse field, Ocelli, Robusta, and Icredibolt are the only three horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby. Ocelli finished third.  

The 2026 race is taking place at Laurel Park while Pimlico undergoes a $400 million renovation.

Does the Preakness Stakes still matter?

Even with this trend of Triple Crown contenders not participating in the Preakness, it remains one of the most prestigious horse racing events. We’re talking about a horse race that dates all the way back to 1873 and has a $2M purse. 

As far as attendance goes, 2026 Preakness tickets are limited to 4,800 patrons due to the temporary relocation. The 2025 Preakness Weekend attracted over 60,000 fans, but that was over two days. While it might sound like a decent crowd, it doesn’t measure up to the 100,000-plus that attended just on Saturdays. The 2017 Preakness still holds the all-time mark with 140,237 spectators.

When Mystic Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, competed in the Preakness, a crowd of 63,423 attended over the two days. Even though the suspense of a horse possibly winning the Triple Crown has faded over recent years, the second leg of the crown jewel still matters.

Is it time to change the horse racing calendar? 

Other than 2020, when the global pandemic impacted the Triple Crown schedule, there has been a two-week break between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and three weeks between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Like Sovereignty last year, Golden Tempo came out of the Derby healthy, but trainers don’t want to risk injury. 

Even though horse racing traditionalists would likely disagree, discussions about spacing the Triple Crown races further apart have taken place. Aside from Mystic Dan, no Kentucky Derby winners since Justify’s Triple Crown win have raced in all Crown Jewel events. 

There have been several stories published since the Run for the Roses about how the schedule needs to change. Brad Cox, who trained Commandment and Further Ado for this year’s Kentucky Derby, is one of the many trainers who have stated that two weeks of rest between races is not enough time.

In the article that appeared in the Baltimore Sun, he elaborated by saying “A lot of trainers that have success at the top level with these 3-year-olds would tell you that (they) would like more than three weeks as well.”

Cox does not have any horses racing in this week’s Preakness. 

The idea of moving the Preakness Stakes to the fourth Saturday in May is not out of the question. 

Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club, recently told Horse Racing Nation that “we’re still in the middle of discussing it.” 

Why moving Preakness Stakes weekend makes sense for 2027  

Without knowing anything about the horses that will be eligible for next year’s Triple Crown, 2027 is a year worth getting excited about. Besides having a renovated Pimlico Race Course, the Belmont Stakes will finally return to Belmont Park. The new facility is scheduled to reopen this fall following a $455-million rebuild. 

This is the third and final year that the Belmont Stakes will be run at Saratoga Race Course. 

Then there is the TV component. This week’s Preakness Stakes is the final one under the current media rights deal with NBC Sports.

With something new being the common theme, 2027 would be the perfect year to finally space out the first two legs of the Triple Crown. That extra week of rest could make a big difference for the next Derby winner.

Kentucky Derby winners and the Triple Crown

Several Kentucky Derby winners have gone on to race in the Preakness and Belmont, but only 13 have won the Triple Crown. That’s going all the way back to 1919 when Sir Barton won all three legs. 

With Justify being the most recent winner, here is a look back at how things have played out in all three races over the last nine years.