The Preakness Stakes is facing an identity crisis—and this year, it's impossible to ignore. For the third time in five years, the Kentucky Derby winner will sit out the second leg of the Triple Crown. Trainer Cherie DeVaux's decision to rest Golden Tempo instead of pushing for glory at Pimlico has reignited a long-simmering debate: Is the Triple Crown broken?
In horse racing's golden era, the Preakness was a standalone spectacle, a can't-miss event on the American sports calendar. But when the Derby winner bows out, the race loses its spark. Last weekend's Kentucky Derby was a triumph—a story that broke into the mainstream and reminded everyone why we love this sport. Now, just days later, that momentum has stalled. The question hanging over the industry is no longer theoretical: Does the Triple Crown need to change?
The math is simple, but the problem is complex. Three grueling races in just five weeks demands a level of durability that modern thoroughbreds often lack. "The sport has evolved," says two-time Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill. "Trying to squeeze three tough races into five weeks just isn't realistic anymore." And he's not alone in thinking that.
Blaming the trend is easy—there's plenty of culprits to go around. The commercial breeding industry rewards speed and early brilliance over stamina. Medications like Lasix and Bute have allowed horses with underlying issues to compete, weakening the gene pool when they retire to stud. And let's not forget the staggering sums of money tied up in breeding rights, making owners more risk-averse than ever.
But assigning blame won't fix the problem. The reality is stark: three of the last five Derby-winning trainers have chosen to skip the Preakness. If Churchill Downs, Pimlico, and Belmont Park can't find a way to adapt—whether by spacing out the races or restructuring the series—they risk watching the Triple Crown fade from relevance. A trophy that once defined greatness in American sports is now being treated as optional. That's a warning no one should ignore.