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The Preakness Stakes is moving dates and will be held on a Sunday for the first time in its history in 2027 as part of the latest shake-up to the horse racing calendar.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club announced the changes in conjunction with a new multi-year broadcasting agreement with NBC during a news conference held on Wednesday, Aug. 5., about 48 hours after organizers behind the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes revealed they had not included the Preakness in a new six-race series to determine the nation's top 3-year-old racehorse that's set to debut in 2027.
The 152nd Preakness Stakes is now scheduled to be held in the late afternoon/early evening on Sunday, May 23 at a renovated Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. It's eight days after the event's traditional third Saturday in May date and three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, as Preakness organizers try to encourage more horses to attempt the Triple Crown gauntlet.
PREAKNESS STAKES 2026: Napoleon Solo dashes to victory
"We have successfully secured the future of Preakness here in the state of Maryland for decades to come; and I am delighted that the Maryland Jockey Club has renewed its media partnership with NBC and Peacock as we enter this exciting new era,” Moore said in a statement. “The continuation of this relationship and the new schedule ensures optimal and accessible coverage for everyone from horse racing experts to casual fans, as our administration continues making historic investments and leveraging the iconic race as a cornerstone of Maryland’s history, culture and economy.”
The changes come in the wake of debate and uncertainty surrounding how horse racing determines its top accomplishment, particularly in light of the alternative recently created by Churchill Downs, Inc. and the New York Racing Association.
The Thoroughbred Championship Series begins with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, which will then be followed by the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in July, the Grade-II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York in late July or early August and the Grade-I Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August. The series will conclude with a championship race at Churchill Downs in September. All races held at Churchill Downs will be broadcast by NBC, and FOX will hold the broadcasting rights for races held at NYRA properties.
Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company that owns the Kentucky Derby, previously announced in April it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes for $85 million, beginning with the 2027 edition of the race. But Moore announced on July 30 that the state had exercised its right of first refusal and matched the offer made by Churchill Downs, Inc.
Three of the past Kentucky Derby winners, including Sovereignty in 2025 and Golden Tempo in 2026, have skipped the Preakness due to the evolution of training methods and horse safety concerns in recent years. The Preakness Stakes has traditionally been the second race of horse racing's Triple Crown, and held in between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Maryland Jockey Club President and CEO Bill Knauf said in a statement he hopes the date change "opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods."
“Our focus is to preserve the tradition of horses running back in the Preakness and to enhance participation in the Triple Crown races," Knauf said. "We acknowledge the great history of the traditional Triple Crown spacing between races, but recognize that change must always be examined. This is common in all professional sports. Now is the time for the Preakness."
The Maryland governor previously told reporters the decision by Churchill Downs, Inc. and the NYRA to start a six-race series without the Preakness Stakes, "validated why this needed to be in Maryland's hands."
"Let's be clear," Moore said, "not only is the Triple Crown going to continue, there is no Triple Crown without Preakness and if you want to win the Triple Crown, we'll see you in Baltimore next year."
The Maryland Jockey Club said its new agreement with NBC runs through 2032. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, traditionally held the Friday before the Preakness, will also shift to Saturday late afternoon/evening in the deal. Terms were not disclosed.
The 2026 Preakness Stakes were held at Laurel Park with Pimlico in the midst of an overhaul estimated at more than $400 million. After the race returns to Baltimore next year before, it will go back to Laurel Park for 2028 in order to complete renovations at Pimlico.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Preakness Stakes will shift to Sunday as Triple Crown feud escalates
Continue reading...
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club announced the changes in conjunction with a new multi-year broadcasting agreement with NBC during a news conference held on Wednesday, Aug. 5., about 48 hours after organizers behind the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes revealed they had not included the Preakness in a new six-race series to determine the nation's top 3-year-old racehorse that's set to debut in 2027.
The 152nd Preakness Stakes is now scheduled to be held in the late afternoon/early evening on Sunday, May 23 at a renovated Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. It's eight days after the event's traditional third Saturday in May date and three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, as Preakness organizers try to encourage more horses to attempt the Triple Crown gauntlet.
PREAKNESS STAKES 2026: Napoleon Solo dashes to victory
"We have successfully secured the future of Preakness here in the state of Maryland for decades to come; and I am delighted that the Maryland Jockey Club has renewed its media partnership with NBC and Peacock as we enter this exciting new era,” Moore said in a statement. “The continuation of this relationship and the new schedule ensures optimal and accessible coverage for everyone from horse racing experts to casual fans, as our administration continues making historic investments and leveraging the iconic race as a cornerstone of Maryland’s history, culture and economy.”
The changes come in the wake of debate and uncertainty surrounding how horse racing determines its top accomplishment, particularly in light of the alternative recently created by Churchill Downs, Inc. and the New York Racing Association.
The Thoroughbred Championship Series begins with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, which will then be followed by the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in July, the Grade-II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York in late July or early August and the Grade-I Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August. The series will conclude with a championship race at Churchill Downs in September. All races held at Churchill Downs will be broadcast by NBC, and FOX will hold the broadcasting rights for races held at NYRA properties.
Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company that owns the Kentucky Derby, previously announced in April it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes for $85 million, beginning with the 2027 edition of the race. But Moore announced on July 30 that the state had exercised its right of first refusal and matched the offer made by Churchill Downs, Inc.
Three of the past Kentucky Derby winners, including Sovereignty in 2025 and Golden Tempo in 2026, have skipped the Preakness due to the evolution of training methods and horse safety concerns in recent years. The Preakness Stakes has traditionally been the second race of horse racing's Triple Crown, and held in between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Maryland Jockey Club President and CEO Bill Knauf said in a statement he hopes the date change "opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods."
“Our focus is to preserve the tradition of horses running back in the Preakness and to enhance participation in the Triple Crown races," Knauf said. "We acknowledge the great history of the traditional Triple Crown spacing between races, but recognize that change must always be examined. This is common in all professional sports. Now is the time for the Preakness."
The Maryland governor previously told reporters the decision by Churchill Downs, Inc. and the NYRA to start a six-race series without the Preakness Stakes, "validated why this needed to be in Maryland's hands."
"Let's be clear," Moore said, "not only is the Triple Crown going to continue, there is no Triple Crown without Preakness and if you want to win the Triple Crown, we'll see you in Baltimore next year."
The Maryland Jockey Club said its new agreement with NBC runs through 2032. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, traditionally held the Friday before the Preakness, will also shift to Saturday late afternoon/evening in the deal. Terms were not disclosed.
The 2026 Preakness Stakes were held at Laurel Park with Pimlico in the midst of an overhaul estimated at more than $400 million. After the race returns to Baltimore next year before, it will go back to Laurel Park for 2028 in order to complete renovations at Pimlico.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Preakness Stakes will shift to Sunday as Triple Crown feud escalates
Continue reading...
