Preakness timeline change comes with questions about future for Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — There’s a shakeup coming to the Triple Crown timeline as Gov. Wes Moore announced the change but skepticism remains for some in Annapolis.

The announcement comes as Maryland is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the horse racing industry, raising questions about whether taxpayers will ultimately benefit from the state’s growing financial commitment to a sport facing an uncertain future.

Beginning next year, the Preakness will move from its traditional spot on the third Saturday in May to the fourth Sunday, giving horses additional time to recover after the Kentucky Derby.

Gov. Moore praised the change, saying it helps preserve the Triple Crown while keeping the Preakness at its center.

“The Triple Crown will continue to be one of the marquee sports events of the year and will continue having Preakness be at the center of it,” Moore said.

The schedule change comes just days after Churchill Downs Incorporated, CDI, and the New York Racing Association announced a new thoroughbred championship series. The series includes the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, but not the Preakness.

Neither organization has publicly explained why the Preakness was excluded, though both said they are open to adding more races “as the series evolves.”

Last week, Maryland finalized an $85 million deal to purchase the intellectual property rights to the Preakness name after Churchill Downs Incorporated sought to acquire them.

The purchase is being financed through bonds. Gov. Moore said he does not view the omission of Maryland from the new racing series as retaliation against Maryland after the state purchased the rights to the Preakness name following a bid from CDI.

“What I did take from it was it actually validated why we made the decision that we did to hold on to our IP and hold on to our own destiny,” Moore said.

Not everyone agrees that the state made the right move. Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey argued Maryland should have allowed CDI to purchase the rights rather than taking on the financial responsibility itself.

“The governor walked CDI down the aisle, to the altar, and on the last day he comes back and says, ‘Sorry guys, we’re not making the deal,'” Hershey said.

Hershey also questioned whether Maryland will be able to manage one of horse racing’s most recognizable brands better than an established racing company.

Horse racing experts have argued for years that the Triple Crown schedule no longer reflects the realities of modern racing. Today’s top thoroughbreds race less frequently than they once did, making the traditional two-week turnaround between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness increasingly difficult.

“You can’t stick to a 1969 schedule in a 2026 world,” horse racing analyst Frank Vespe previously told FOX45 News.

The date change comes as Maryland pours significant public investment into horse racing. The state is spending roughly $400 million to rebuild the Pimlico racetrack and has also spent $50 million to purchase Laurel Park, which will serve as a training facility.

Gov. Moore said those investments are necessary to preserve the future of the Triple Crown.

“If you want to talk about what needs to be done to invest in the Triple Crown, what needs to be done to make sure that the grandeur of the Triple Crown continues to exist, my answer is that’s exactly what we’ve just done,” he said.

Maryland has also reached a new agreement with NBC to broadcast the Preakness. Network executives said stronger television ratings could increase revenue opportunities for both the network and the race but declined to disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

“I think there’s a significant financial amount. We don’t discuss financial terms,” an NBC executive said.

As Maryland commits hundreds of millions of dollars to the future of horse racing, some economists say the investment carries substantial risk.

“We’ve got a lot of money at stake, a lot of future economic impact at stake, and all this makes me rather nervous,” economist Anirban Basu said.

Whether moving the Preakness, renovating Pimlico, securing a new television deal, and purchasing the race’s intellectual property ultimately pay off remains to be seen.

Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.