- 5 of last 7 Preakness races featured no Kentucky Derby winner
- Modern trainers prioritize 5+ week recovery periods between major races
- Industry leaders propose calendar changes to preserve Triple Crown relevance
- Maryland's Pimlico Race Course faces economic uncertainty amid participation declines
The decision to keep Sovereignty out of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes continues a pattern reshaping American thoroughbred racing. Since 2019, nearly 70% of Preakness events have lacked the current Kentucky Derby champion, compared to just 3% in the previous three decades. This philosophical shift stems from evolving veterinary practices and breeding priorities favoring longer recovery windows.
Trainers like Bill Mott now face criticism for prioritizing horse welfare over tradition. We’ve seen a 40% increase in track injuries since 2000,notes Churchill Downs equine medical director Dr. Laura Kennedy. Modern bloodlines bred for sprint speed require careful management.This reality led to 2022 Derby winner Rich Strike skipping Pimlico entirely – a move that cost Baltimore businesses an estimated $12M in tourism revenue.
The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Association reports Preakness attendance has dropped 18% since 2015, with handle amounts declining $23M annually. Proposed solutions include:
- Moving Belmont Stakes to mid-May as second leg
- Extending Preakness to first weekend in June
- Creating regional qualifying circuits to reduce travel stress
Not all trainers embrace caution. D. Wayne Lukas, 89, will run American Promise despite finishing 16th at Churchill Downs. This sport was built on testing champions,argues the Hall of Famer. Recent history supports both approaches – Mystik Dan’s strong 2023 Preakness showing after two weeks’ rest versus Justify’s 2018 Triple Crown dominance under tighter spacing.
Media rights complicate matters. NBC’s $4B Triple Crown contract through 2035 pressures organizers to maintain viewer interest amid thinning fields. Meanwhile, breeding syndicates increasingly pull Derby winners from competition – 62% of 21st-century champions raced fewer than eight times annually.
As Repole Ventures proposes calendar reforms, Pimlico’s $400M renovation hangs in the balance. The Maryland Jockey Club now partners with Virginia breeders to create mid-Atlantic training hubs, hoping to reduce shipping-related injuries by 30%. Whether tradition or transformation prevails, one truth remains: The road to the Triple Crown now forks at Louisville.