Preakness Stakes Schedule Change Announced for 2027, Updated Triple Crown Dates

The Preakness Stakes will be later next year.

Greg Ng of WBAL-TV reported Wednesday that the Triple Crown race will move one week later on the calendar starting in 2027. That means the 152nd edition of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course will take place on Sunday, May 23, which marks the first time the race is on a Sunday since 1873.

It will also be eight days after the traditional third Saturday in May to provide three weeks in between it and the Kentucky Derby.

That means next year's Kentucky Derby will be May 1, the Preakness will be May 23 and the Belmont Stakes will be June 5.

"Moving the Preakness to the fourth weekend in May is a historic announcement," Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager Bill Knauf said in a statement. "We believe the Preakness and the entire Triple Crown series are positioned for growth and great success."

Providing an additional week between the first and second legs of the Triple Crown will, in theory, create a situation where more horses run in each race.

As Ng explained, a number of horse trainers and owners have hesitated to run in the Preakness of late to provide more rest time between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

Just this past year, Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo did not run in the Preakness, ending a chance at the Triple Crown.

"This extra week between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods," Knauf said. "Our focus is to preserve the tradition of horses running back in the Preakness and to enhance participation in the Triple Crown races."

This announcement comes after the overall future of the Triple Crown and importance of the Preakness was thrown into question when Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association announced a joint partnership for a six-race series starting next year that will have a $5 million bonus attached to it.

It did not include the Preakness, as the six races were announced as the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, the Matt Winn Stakes, the Jim Dandy Stakes, the Travelers Stakes and then another newly created race at Churchill Downs.

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert took to social media in the aftermath of the announcement and stressed that "the greatest achievement in racing will always be winning the Triple Crown" while pointing out how important the Preakness is to the sport's history:

With this later date now on the schedule, perhaps the second leg of the Triple Crown will see more notable fields in the more immediate future as it looks to maintain its overall importance in the sport.