Preakness Stakes to Be Held on a Sunday in Triple Crown First
The change aims to draw more Kentucky Derby horses and aligns the race with Memorial Day Weekend starting in 2028, officials said.
- On Wednesday, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club announced that the 152nd Preakness Stakes will move to Sunday, three weeks and a day after the Kentucky Derby, marking the first Sunday race in Triple Crown history.
- Officials aim to reverse declining participation, noting only 13.7% of Derby runners have competed in the Preakness since 2022, as winners typically rest before the second leg of the Triple Crown.
- The schedule change coincides with a $500 million reconstruction of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and extends the Maryland Jockey Club's media rights agreement with NBC Sports through 2032 for six years of coverage.
- Governor Moore emphasized Triple Crown integrity despite the historic shift, stating, "There is no Triple Crown without Preakness," as he invited competitors to Baltimore next year for the second leg.
- A 13-day gap between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes may force trainers to choose between them, though future schedule changes remain possible beyond 2027 as organizers balance participation and tradition.
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Gov. Moore Orders Biggest Preakness Change In More Than 150 Years With New Sunday Races And NBC TV Deal - The BayNet
NOTE: The Office of the Governor shared the following press release: ANNAPOLIS – Governor Moore announced a new schedule for the Black-Eyed Susan and Preakness Stakes races. This announcement follows the state’s final acquisition of the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights to the Preakness Stakes and Black Eyed Susan from 1/ST Racing, ensuring that the race will call Baltimore and Maryland home well into the future, ensuring the State remains in fi…
Big changes coming to Triple Crown
A big change is coming to horse racing’s Triple Crown, with the Preakness Stakes moving to three weeks and a day after the Kentucky Derby and being run on Sunday for the first time. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club announced the decision Wednesday. No Triple Crown race has ever taken place on a Sunday in the century-plus-old history of the series. The shift marks a major change on the horse racing calendar, following signific…
Preakness moves back 8 days in bid to revive Triple Crown
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn ImagesThe Preakness Stakes is moving back one week in a major attempt to preserve the relevance of horse racing’s traditional Triple Crown. The Maryland Jockey Club announced that the Preakness will move back eight days, while the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will also be pushed back eight days and will be run on Saturday. The move will push the Preakness to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, beginning in 2027. The ann…
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