New Thoroughbred Series Changes Triple Crown Future

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) and The New York Racing Association (NYRA) have announced a new six-race competition for elite three-year-old Thoroughbreds, creating a season-long championship structure that will reshape the schedule surrounding some of American horse racing’s biggest events.

The Thoroughbred Championship Series will begin in 2027 with the Kentucky Derby and conclude with a newly created championship race at Churchill Downs in September. The series will include races hosted at Churchill Downs Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, with a $5 million prize pool awarded according to final standings.

The announcement has raised questions about the future role of the traditional Triple Crown after the Preakness Stakes was left outside the new competition. The Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Preakness have formed horse racing’s most recognized championship sequence for more than a century, but recent decisions by trainers to skip the Preakness have increased debate over whether the schedule still fits modern racing practices.

New Championship Format Creates Competition For Triple Crown

The new series will start with the Kentucky Derby on May 1, followed by the Belmont Stakes on June 5. The remaining events are scheduled for Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Stakes in July, Saratoga’s Jim Dandy Stakes in late July or early August, the Travers Stakes in late August and the final championship race at Churchill Downs in September.

CDI and NYRA said the points-based system aims to encourage leading three-year-olds to compete more regularly throughout the season. The organizations will also coordinate rules, nominations, marketing, sponsorship opportunities and television coverage.

“The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season,” said Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI. “The Kentucky Derby introduces millions of fans to a new generation of Thoroughbred stars each year, and this series gives those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport’s biggest stars throughout the season. By connecting these premier events through one championship, we’re creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of Thoroughbred racing.”

The Churchill Downs races will be broadcast on NBC, while NYRA events will air on FOX through existing television partnerships.

David O’Rourke, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYRA, said the series would build on established racing traditions.

“This series is designed to showcase the sport’s best three-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans,” said O’Rourke. “The return of the Belmont Stakes to a newly transformed Belmont Park makes this an especially exciting moment for our sport. Together with Churchill Downs and our television partners, we are building on tradition to carry the excitement of these marquee races through the entire season.”

Preakness Exclusion Raises Questions Over Maryland’s Role

The absence of the Preakness from the new championship structure has become the central issue surrounding the announcement. The race remains part of the Triple Crown, but recent participation trends have highlighted concerns about its position.

The last two Kentucky Derby winners, Sovereignty and Golden Tempo, skipped the Preakness, while Rich Strike also avoided the race after winning the Derby in 2022. Modern trainers have increasingly shown reluctance to run horses again only two weeks after the Derby.

Maryland officials had previously considered changing the Preakness schedule, with discussions reportedly focused on moving the race to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby. However, the new series maintains the Belmont Stakes date in early June, creating additional challenges for horses attempting to compete in all three traditional Triple Crown races.

The Preakness is scheduled to return to Pimlico after being held at Laurel Park during its temporary relocation. Maryland also secured the intellectual property rights to the race after matching an $85 million agreement originally reached between Churchill Downs and the previous owner.

“With this final acquisition we are not only leveraging the Preakness’s iconic status and uplifting our horse racing industry, we are revitalizing the communities that directly benefit from the economic opportunities of the race,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore said in a statement.

Industry Figures Debate Racing’s Next Direction

Supporters of the new championship format argue that horse racing needs structural changes to maintain interest and attract participation. Prominent owner Mike Repole backed the partnership between CDI and NYRA, describing cooperation between major organizations as necessary for the sport’s future.

“I applaud @ChurchillDowns and @TheNYRA for working together in the best interests of the sport and for recognizing that evolution requires innovation, real change and the courage to do things differently,” Repole wrote on X, as reported by Yahoo Sports, citing Churchill Downs’ press release. “NBC and FOX working together to broadcast this series is another great example of exactly what this industry needs: major organizations putting competition aside, breaking down silos and collaborating to create something bigger, better and more exciting for the entire sport.”

Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert also supported efforts to introduce new ideas while emphasizing the importance of the traditional series.

“I am in favor of any and all new ideas to grow racing and increase interest in our sport,” Baffert said on social media, while also praising the virtues of the Triple Crown. “The Preakness is integral to racing’s history, present and future, and I hope nothing detracts from its significance.”