Preakness Stakes date reportedly in question due to horse safety concerns

BALTIMORE  -- 1/ST Racing & Gaming is considering moving the Preakness Stakes date back a couple more weeks from the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown.

The company that owns the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Pimlico Race Course, told WJZ it is time to advance those discussions of "spacing out the schedule.

Thoroughbred Daily News said the discussion involves moving the Preakness Stakes from two weeks to four weeks after the Derby, citing safety reasons for the horses.

"For one, allowing additional time between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes would give horses a greater opportunity to prepare and be ready between the Derby and the second leg of the Triple Crown," Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer of 1/ST Racing & Gaming, told WJZ. "The schedule for the Triple Crown has been varied multiple times in the past, and a close look at making some changes is necessary for a number of reasons."

The New York Racing Association, which hosts the Belmont Stakes five weeks after the Derby, has come out against the change," according to our media partner The Baltimore Banner.

"NYRA has concerns about fundamental changes to the structure of the Triple Crown," spokesman Patrick McKenna said. "We have no plans to move the date of the Belmont Stakes."

The Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, is annually run on the third Saturday in May. Pushing the Preakness back would mean the Belmont Stakes would also need to be moved to a different date.

"We recognize that modifying the schedule for the Preakness Stakes could have implications, and we look forward to engaging with all stakeholders to work through questions and concerns," Butler said. "The future of the Triple Crown is best decided collectively, but we are committed to seeing this conversation through to a positive result."

The 148th running of the Preakness Stakes took place on May 20, 2023 with Bob Baffert's National Treasure winning. Earlier in the day, one of Baffert's horses had to be euthanized.

In the span of a month, last Spring, 12 horses died at Churchill Downs, Kentucky's most prominent track, since the stable opened this season.