The Preakness to Shift Dates in 2027, Reigniting Debate Over the Triple Crown's Future

The Pimlico classic will be run on Sunday, May 23, three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, while the Belmont will retain its traditional spot on the calendar; Maryland seeks to strengthen the second leg of the series and preserve its essence

Napoleón Solo winning the Preakness Stakes, this year / LAUREL PARK

BALTIMORE, Maryland (Special for Turf Diario).— The Preakness Stakes (G1) will usher in a new historic era in 2027. The State Government of Maryland confirmed that the second leg of the Triple Crown will be run on Sunday, May 23—22 days after the Kentucky Derby (G1)—altering a century-old tradition with the goal of encouraging participation from the division's top 3-year-olds and elevating the race's profile.

The announcement was made by Governor Wes Moore, who defended the schedule adjustment as a measure designed to safeguard the future of American racing's most iconic series: "We are moving the date of the Preakness to ensure that the winner of the Kentucky Derby has adequate time to recover and prepare for the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown will continue, and the Preakness will remain its second leg," Moore stated.

In addition to shifting weeks, the classic will no longer take place on Saturday, transitioning instead to Sunday. Meanwhile, the traditional Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2), reserved for 3-year-old fillies, will be contested on Saturday, May 22, anchoring a premier weekend of racing at Pimlico.

Both the Preakness and the Black-Eyed Susan will remain on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN following a multi-year broadcast extension between the network and the Maryland Jockey Club, securing coverage through 2032.

Moore emphasized that the modification extends beyond pure sports scheduling.

"These changes are about much more than television contracts or racing dates. Maryland has reclaimed control of its premier racing asset, and we are making major investments to rebuild Pimlico into a world-class facility while driving revitalization in the Park Heights neighborhood. We want to build winners both on and off the track," he noted.

Meanwhile, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) confirmed that the Belmont Stakes (G1) will retain its traditional placement on the calendar, set for Saturday, June 5, at the newly redeveloped Belmont Park.

Consequently, the gap between the Preakness and the Belmont will shrink to just 13 days, even as the spacing between the Derby and the second leg grows from the traditional two-week turnaround to a little over three weeks.

The decision arrives just days after Churchill Downs and NYRA announced the creation of a lucrative new 3-year-old series backed by substantial bonuses that notably excludes the Preakness, an initiative that has intensified the ongoing debate regarding the structure of the Triple Crown.

Among the first prominent figures to publicly support the shift was Bob Baffert, the all-time winningest trainer in Preakness history with 8 victories.

"I think it's a great idea. Having an extra week of rest and running on a Sunday preserves the tradition of the Triple Crown while giving horsemen a fairer turn. It's a win-win. If you feel you have the right horse coming out of the Derby, you now have sufficient time to make the gate," Baffert expressed.

Baffert even cited the historic example of Conquistador Cielo (Mr. Prospector), conditioned by Woody Stephens, who in 1982 captured the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on a Monday before coming back just five days later to gallop by 14 lengths in the Belmont Stakes.

Maryland Jockey Club President Bill Knauf also praised the new format: "We believe that scheduling the Preakness for the fourth Sunday in May and establishing the Black-Eyed Susan as Saturday's centerpiece feature will elevate the entire weekend experience for owners, trainers, bettors, and fans alike. The Preakness has been an anchor of the Triple Crown for over a century, and it will remain so for another hundred years. The road will always run through Pimlico," he assured.

The schedule change forms part of an ambitious redevelopment project spearheaded by the State of Maryland, which includes the comprehensive reconstruction of Pimlico Race Course, a new training center at Laurel Park, and the state's acquisition of the intellectual property rights to the Preakness.

"If you want to win the Triple Crown, we'll see you in Baltimore," Moore concluded, delivering a clear message behind a reform that aims to restore prominence to a race whose historical significance remains undisputed, even as its place in the modern racing calendar takes center stage once again.