8/4/2026

(Saratoga Springs, NY) The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and Churchill Downs Inc (CDI) held a joint news conference on Monday announcing the creation of a new series of races for 3-year-olds, the “Thoroughbred Championship Series”. The new series will include 6 races and begin a new tradition in 2027 establishing an annual season-long championship for 3-year-olds. The new series does not include the Preakness Stakes.

Triple Crown Controversy

For many years there has been discussions and debate on changing the Triple Crown format. The want and need to have a potential Triple Crown winner would end many times at the Preakness or not even get to the Preakness like this year when Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness and would go on to win the Belmont.

The debate has been between hard core traditionalists and those who want to see at least more chances at Triple Crown winners. What those in favor of change want to avoid are those long stretches of no Triple Crown winners such as the 25-year stretch from Citation’s win in 1948 to Secretariat in 1973. The a 27-year difference from Affirmed in 1978 to American Pharoah in 2015. Justify was the last to win it in 2018.

One of the arguments for change was that the Triple Crown still draws a lot of interested from the casual fan. The Derby still packs in 150,000 fans on Derby Day but if there isn’t a horse with a chance to win the Triple Crown then both the Preakness and Belmont feel the decline in attendance and excitement. The Triplew crown is needed to keep racing in front of the larger fanbase.

Current Environment

The current environment isn’t doing any favors either and it’s a nationwide issue. Shorter fields, fewer races overall and tracks closing for good at an alarming rate. The West Coast is down to just Del Mar, Santa Anita, Los Alamitos and Emerald Downs. Go in a few miles or so and you still have big meets at Turf Paradise and the tracks in New Mexico.

There are some smaller meets such as Grants Pass Oregon and the Oregon fairs, Wyoming is trying to expand and Arapahoe Park in Colorado but not much else in the West.

Same thing is happening in the East, Florida has boarded up Hialeah and Calder and now the Stronach group who owns Gulfstream is trying to figure out how to de-couple racing from their casino business and then sell off the race track property closing it down.

Other major tracks that have closed over the last last decade include Arlington Park near Chicago and apparently Hawthorne is next to go in the Windy City. Aqueduct just ran their last race in New York, Suffolk Downs near Boston and many more.

Trying to extend National excitment past a few weekends a year with a series such as this is something that NYRA and CDI felt was needed.  The sports fan and gambling dollar have many choices these days unlike ever before. Sticking with the current Triple Crown series just because that’s how it’s always been done is likey not going to move the needle much. 

Unlikely Partners

NYRA and CDI teaming together may have seemed unattenable even just 10 years ago but current dynamics have hit all of racing and in an industry where for decades and decades each track, each State Racing Commission were all on their own have brought these two racing giants together for a shared goal.

NYRA President and Chief Executive David O’Rourke says, “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.” 

“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,” O’Rourke said.

Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said,“By connecting these premier events through one championship, we’re creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of thoroughbred racing.”

“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,” Carstanjen said.

The Proposal

The six race series is still being worked on for final details but the races and schedule will be in the following timeline:

–Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 1

–Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Belmont Park on June 5

–Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs Racetrack in July (exact date TBD)

–Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late July/early August (exact date TBD)

–Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late August (exact date TBD)

–Championship Race at Churchill Downs Racetrack in September (exact date TBD)

More Work still to be done

A unified points system is designed to encourage the nation’s leading three-year-olds to compete against one another more frequently. In addition to individual race purses, a $5 million prize pool will be awarded based on the final standings, which will also provide owners and trainers with meaningful financial incentives to remain active throughout the championship series.

Each race will be broadcast to a national television audience. The NYRA races will air on FOX, while Churchill Downs races will air on NBC

CDI and NYRA will work collaboratively on the series’ rules, nominations process, marketing, sponsorship, wagering opportunities and television distribution. Broadcast, sponsorship and commercial partnership details will be announced as agreements are finalized.

Additional information regarding the race schedule, points system, eligibility rules, prize distribution and branding will be released shortly.

Where does the Preakness fit in?

In January 2025 management of thoroughbred racing in Maryland changed from the Stronach Group to the newly-formed, state-owned Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). The Stronach Group retained intellectual ownership of the Preakness, for which the MTROA pays an annual licensing fee.

NYRA and CDI have stated that the Preakness can retain it’s current position or can adjust their schedule as they see would best work for the Preakness. Neither the MTROA or Stronach group were included in the new Championship series agreed upon between NYRA and CDI.

The future of the Preakness will likely be determined by the horse connections determining which pathway through all the offered 3 year-old races under this proposal. The difference is if they choose to run in the traditional triple crown races the Preakness will not count toward the points Championships being proposed.

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