In a move that has sent ripples through the horse racing world, Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will skip the 2026 Preakness Stakes, dashing hopes for a Triple Crown contender this season. Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the announcement Wednesday, citing the colt's optimal distance as the key factor.

Golden Tempo's wheelhouse is the classic 1 ¼-mile distance—the same as the Kentucky Derby and the upcoming Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. With Belmont Park still under reconstruction, the "Test of the Champion" will also be run at 10 furlongs, making it a natural fit for the Derby winner's strengths. This strategic focus on the longer distances is a wise decision for the horse's long-term career.

This marks the second consecutive year the Derby winner has bypassed the Preakness, following Sovereignty's absence in 2025 and Rich Strike's skip in 2022. The trend raises serious questions about the Triple Crown's traditional five-week gauntlet, especially as this year's Preakness moves to Laurel Park in Maryland—where attendance is capped at a mere 4,800 fans while Pimlico undergoes renovations.

Let's be honest: running a Triple Crown jewel before fewer than 5,000 spectators is mortifying. Thoroughbreds today are more like finely tuned Ferraris than the rugged workhorses of decades past. They need proper rest and recuperation after a massive effort. Asking them to run three demanding races in five weeks simply isn't sustainable for modern breeding and training practices.

The good news? Change may be on the horizon. Reports indicate Maryland plans to shift the Preakness to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby once Pimlico reopens—a step in the right direction. The ideal solution would be to space each leg on the first Saturday of consecutive months: the Derby on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness on the first Saturday in June, and the Belmont on the first Saturday in July.

Yes, it would break from tradition. But consider this: would a Triple Crown won at Saratoga over 1 ¼ miles really be a blemish because it wasn't the "Test of the Champion" at the traditional 1 ½-mile Belmont? Or is it time to adapt the schedule to protect these incredible athletes?

With 24 horses entered in the Kentucky Derby, the sport's popularity is undeniable. But if we want to keep seeing champions like Golden Tempo on the track, the schedule needs to catch up with the horses.