NYRA Weighs Further Future Changes to Triple Crown

As the points chase for the Kentucky Derby (G1) begins Sept. 12 with the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, a new crop of 3-year-olds will venture into a different landscape in 2027. Two separate moves in early August, announced two days apart, shook up both the Triple Crown and the progression of top 3-year-old stakes. The new series pointed to unity between Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association but leaving out the Maryland Jockey Club from that series pointed to division among the three entities. The drama started Aug. 3 when NYRA and CDI jointly announced a new, six-race series for 3-year-olds, starting with the Kentucky Derby (G1) and then continuing with the Belmont Stakes (G1) as the second race. That format was questioned because it excluded the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, the middle race in the Triple Crown. But two days later it became obvious the hurried announcement of the 3-year-old series was a preemptive move as the MJC announced Aug. 5 a new television deal with NBC that pushed the Preakness back a week and a day to a new date of Sunday, May 23. READ: NYRA CEO Pleased With Numbers for 'Longest' Spa Meet That kept the five-week duration of the Triple Crown intact but shifted the 57-year-old spacing from two weeks between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and three weeks more to the Belmont; to three weeks (22 days) between the Derby and Preakness and just 13 days to the 1 1/2-mile Belmont at the new Belmont Park June 5. While the move came after two straight years in which the connections of the Derby winner skipped the Preakness to run in the Belmont, the 2027 spacing seems highly unlikely to sustain a Triple Crown bid. If a 3-year-old wins the Derby and Preakness, he will be asked to run a mile-and-a-half on 13 days' rest. Beyond the short turnaround, because of a 15-day withdrawal time for some controlled medications, a winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown could face his top rivals in the Run for the Roses who have five weeks of rest and additional options for controlled medications to ease minor aches while keeping their training on schedule. While NYRA and CDI had no control over the MJC move, NYRA CEO and president Dave O'Rourke wishes the Triple Crown schedule had been left untouched. "It's Maryland's race and they can do as they choose, but by moving it up, it definitely makes it more difficult for a horse to come back in 13 days and run in the Belmont. I think it's still possible for a Triple Crown sweep. I've had a conversation or two with (the MJC) since they moved the date. But it would have been our preference if they stayed where they were," O'Rourke said. "Right now our focus is on building the 3-year-old series and to continue the conversation with the Maryland people, but (their date) is a question for them. Sitting where they are is not ideal." With the new format seemingly untenable for Triple Crown bids, O'Rourke would be open to a more dramatic shift that would make the Belmont Stakes the second jewel in the Triple Crown and the Preakness the final leg. He also said there will be discussions about the Belmont's mile-and-a-half distance after three editions of the classic being contested at a mile-and-a-quarter at Saratoga Race Course while Belmont Park was being rebuilt. "The distance of the Belmont is a conversation that will come up this winter for sure," O'Rourke said. "When you talk about modernization and adapting to the modern sports world and where our game has gone, the mile and a half is unique. So, there's that aspect to it, about how relevant is it to the breeders." O'Rourke said a main reason why NYRA wants to maintain its early June position for the Belmont is the heavy load of grade 1 stakes during the week that feed into Saratoga and the rest of NYRA's stakes calendar. "In terms of the Triple Crown, moving the Belmont Stakes starts to impact the rest of our season, specifically Saratoga. So, it was not our intention to change the dates," he said. "There's nine grade 1 stakes Belmont Stakes week and it's a pivot point for the racing season. Messing with that has a cascade effect on pretty much everything we do. As much as we are focused on the Belmont, we are also focused on how we maintain the stature of our entire racing program." O'Rourke said that what happens with the MJC regarding the Triple Crown or the 3-year-old series will be done in unity with CDI. "I think there will be continued conversations with them, but if we do anything with them, that's something that NYRA and Churchill would work together towards," he said. As for the new 2027 3-year-old series, final details will be announced later this year. The format calls for a $5 million bonus pool to be divided among the winners. The six races, in order, will be the Derby, Belmont, Matt Winn Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, and a to-be-determined final race in September at Churchill. The stakes at Churchill Downs will be broadcast on NBC, with the New York races on FOX. That schedule leaves out the Preakness, as well as top summer races such as the Haskell Stakes (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1). "There has been constant conversation between NYRA and Churchill Downs," O'Rourke said. "We've worked diligently to put the series together. I couldn't be happier the way the teams are integrating. They're very motivated. They understand we are creating something new and trying to modernize the sport and create a season-long narrative.' O'Rourke said it is vital for the sport to capitalize on the roughly 25 million viewers of the Kentucky Derby and keep those horses in the public's eye during a season that lasts until the Breeders' Cup in late October or early November. "We feel racing needs a continuous narrative with cross-promotion from both of our broadcasters to engage the fan base consistently over the longest period of time," he said. "So, if you look at metrics, such as the Travers having a million viewers (on FOX), that was an amazing race. Can we get that to 2 million viewers? "To get there, you need to cross-promote and keep a continuous narrative because these names resonate. But if you don't keep your content in front of people and reinforce it, I think it makes it much more difficult for a sport that runs through the Breeders' Cup. The Kentucky Derby has 25 million viewers and maintaining that momentum is extremely important." Heading into 2027, it remains to be seen how the new Triple Crown dates and 3-year-old series will be received, but change is certainly on the horizon. Time will tell how much of a good thing it will be in this instance. "The Triple Crown has been one of the sacred things in sports. If you try to adapt a tradition and start moving too much, at what point do you dilute it?" O'Rourke said. "My personal opinion is that I wish the dates would have been left alone."