The Triple Crown is on life support, and it's time for a calendar shake-up.

The purists and traditionalists have a point: the Triple Crown's unmatched difficulty is what makes it so special. Over the past 107 years, only 13 horses have swept all three legs, and just eight trainers have opted to skip the Preakness—four of them since 2021 alone. Historically, running the second leg was a rite of passage for every Kentucky Derby winner. But lately, that tradition is fading fast.

Here's the problem: the Triple Crown shouldn't be so grueling that no one dares to try. The magic of the racing season lies in the cocktail of hope and mystery—the thrill of the chase. It starts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, where just last week, a 3-year-old colt named Golden Tempo ran what trainer Cherie DeVaux called "the race of a lifetime." Her boots were still muddy when the Maryland Jockey Club invited her and Golden Tempo to the Preakness. But for the third time in five years, the chase ended before it really began.

Trainers of Kentucky Derby winners, backed by modern veterinary medicine, are increasingly cautious about running their prized colts on a two-week turnaround. Who can blame DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Derby, for prioritizing Golden Tempo's health and long-term future? "We believe the best decision is to give him a little more time," she said in a statement. Last year, it was the same story, with trainer Bill Mott explaining, "We want to do what's best for the horse."

Because the sport has been unwilling to adjust its schedule, the Triple Crown is now on life support. Back-to-back healthy scratches—like Golden Tempo's—underscore that reality. Instead of chasing history, he'll aim for the Belmont Stakes in June. Of the 18 horses that ran in Louisville, most are opting for rest over risk. For fans and the sport alike, it's time to rethink the calendar before the Triple Crown becomes a relic of the past.