When 1/ST Racing made public comments about moving the date of the Preakness Stakes to four weeks after the Kentucky Derby, the reaction from most of the Thoroughbred industry was one of surprise. According to comments given to bloodhorse.com, important stakeholders in Maryland were also among those surprised by the idea.
“No one in Maryland was consulted about those remarks, not the horsemen's group, the breeders, the state, anyone in regards to it,” Alan Foreman, longtime counsel for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, told bloodhorse.com.
In 2023, only one horse from the Kentucky Derby, the victorious Mage, returned two weeks later to attempt the Preakness at Pimlico. In 2022, the Derby winner Rich Strike skipped the Preakness altogether.
If the Preakness date were moved, the Belmont Stakes, currently run five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, would thus be held one week after the Preakness. NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said there are no plans in the works to move the date of the third leg of the Triple Crown.
“NYRA has concerns about fundamental changes to the structure of the Triple Crown,” McKenna said. “We have no plans to move the date of the Belmont Stakes.”
Even with a shift to four weeks after the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness may yet have trouble attracting the best entries.
“Nothing will change with a week or two difference,” Tim Keefe, president of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, told bloodhorse.com.
Foreman agreed.
“The connections of most Derby horses do not enter the Preakness and that is not going to change if the race is moved. There are too many other options today,” he said. “There is reluctance to move the Triple Crown into July because of concerns about attendance, conflicts with other sports, and ratings.”
The post ‘Nothing Will Change With A Week Or Two Difference’: 1/ST’s Preakness Date Proposal Leaves Stakeholders Uninspired appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
