Racing reacts to Preakness moving to 22 days after Derby

Key Points:

• Maryland officials announced the 2027 Preakness Stakes will move to Sunday, May 23, eight days later than its traditional date and 22 days after the Kentucky Derby, with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes shifting to Saturday, May 22; NBC extended its broadcast deal through 2032.
• The date change aims to address the issue of recent Derby winners skipping the Preakness to target the Belmont Stakes, coinciding with the unveiling of a rival championship series by Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association.
• The move received mixed reactions, with some experts and fans skeptical that a one-week shift will influence trainers' decisions, while others criticized holding the race on a Sunday, fearing it may hurt betting revenue and clash with other sports events.
• Some commentators see the change as a sign of the Triple Crown's decline due to breeding trends favoring sales and stud value over racing performance, while others view it as a strategic move to compete with New York's racing schedule and potentially make the Preakness more appealing than the longer Belmont Stakes.
• Maryland Jockey Club board members and some racing fans defend the decision, highlighting potential benefits and suggesting the new spacing might enhance the Preakness's status in the current racing era.