For the first time ever, a Triple Crown race is ditching Saturday! The Preakness Stakes is officially moving to Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in 2027. This bombshell announcement came down on Wednesday from Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club, all with one massive goal in mind: bring a top-tier field back to the second leg of horse racing’s most iconic series.
Why The Switch? Trainers Were Ditching The Derby Winner’s Circle
This move is a direct shot at a major problem that’s been nagging the Triple Crown for years. Trainers have been straight-up skipping the Preakness with their best horses, especially after the grueling Kentucky Derby, all because there are only two weeks between those races. Seriously, think about this: in 2026, there were *zero* horses in the Preakness field that had also run in the Derby. Zero! Since 2022, it’s been a joke, with just 13 out of 95 Derby horses even bothering to show up for the Preakness.
Maryland Jockey Club CEO Bill Knauf didn’t mince words, saying they “believe the Preakness and the entire Triple Crown series are positioned for growth and great success.” He made it clear, via the AP, that “This extra week between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods.” Plain and simple, they want the best horses back in the race.
The New Conflict: Belmont’s Got A Problem Now
Okay, so they solved one problem, but now there’s a *new* one, and it’s a doozy. In 2027, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, will be only 13 days apart! That’s brutal. It means trainers are still going to have to make a tough call, picking between the Preakness and the Belmont. Considering there were no Derby runners in last year’s Preakness, the pressure’s now squarely on the Belmont Stakes to either adjust its own schedule or risk having its field totally diluted.
Oh, and get this: this whole scheduling shuffle just happens to align with a fresh TV rights extension with NBC to broadcast the Preakness through 2032. Coincidence? Maybe. But let’s be real, the chase for the Triple Crown is what brings in casual fans, and a weak field absolutely kills that vibe.
This is a wild shake-up for horse racing’s biggest annual event. The 2027 Preakness is also making its return to a partially-open Pimlico Race Course after being run at Laurel Park in 2026 due to a massive $500 million renovation. Pimlico should be fully ready for the 2028 race. The industry is clearly trying to keep the Triple Crown relevant, and the ball’s in Belmont’s court now. What’s their move? Fans are watching to see if these changes actually bring back the top talent and that electric Triple Crown chase.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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