Former NHL player and now respected NBC handicapper Eddie Olczyk feels the US Triple Crown racing schedule needs a re-vamp and to “Get up with the times”.
Eddie Olczyk was asked on the Follow The Money Podcast on Thursday – with hosts Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard – about his views on Derby winner Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness.
Every Other Sport Have Evolved and Changed, Said Olczyk
With the Preakness Stakes coming just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, this gives horses and trainers little time to take stock and get their charge ready for a Triple Crown tilt.
Which is why in recent years, a lot of Derby winners have skipped the Preakness – preferring to have more to time and then be aimed at the last leg of the trio of races – the Belmont Stakes in early June.
Therefore, the three Triple Crown races are run over just a five week span – meaning these young 3 year-olds have to be as tough as old boots in order to be at their peak for these three tough races.
Last year’s Derby winner Sovereignty bypassed the Preakness but came back to land the Belmont.
And this year’s Derby winner Golden Tempo will also MISS the Preakness at Laurel Park on May 16, with his trainer Cherie DeVaux stating she needed more time.
With the Belmont his next intended target on June 6.
Which is why many US horse racing fans keep questioning if the Triple Crown race schedule needs re-thinking.
“Every Other Sport Have Evolved and Changed” Said Olczyk
Eddie Olczyk
When asked about Golden Tempo missing the Preakness Stakes this year – Eddie Olczyk chipped in with his views.
“Well, we’ve touched on this over the years, and I think every other sport has evolved and changed – now whether you say for the better. “
“With overtime in hockey, the shootout, 3-point line in basketball. NFL cater all the rules to the offensive side, seeing more scoring. “
“While the home run fences over the years have come in more in baseball – making the numbers different here.”
With Eddie Olczyk adding
“And I think horse racing needs to get up with the times, and I think that we need to get some separation between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.”
“I feel if you added a week in there and wanted to go May, June and July. “
“I just feel that you have to do what’s right by the equine athletes and I think last year it happened with Sovereignty and this year again with Golden Tempo bypassing the Preakness and is going to run in the Belmont at Saratoga. “
“Would I love to see it? 100%. “
“But I think it’s time we really need to take a ‘deep dive’ into it and make sure that we have enough healthy horses and are able to rebound. “
“Some can and some are good at back-to-back runs – some not so. But we’ve got to look at change as every other sport has changed and the way horse racing is going, we need to open up our eyes and do what is right for the game.”
After his 1-2 in the Kentucky Derby, you can see the Eddie Olczyk Preakness Stakes picks – siding with one horse that he says “Never Gives Up”.
When Is The Preakness Stakes 2026?
📅 Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
⌚ Time: 7:01pm ET
🏇 Racecourse: Laurel Park
🔄 Trip: 1m 1 1/2f
💷 Preakness Stakes Purse: $2m
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing / NBC / Peacock
Who Was The Last US Triple Crown Winner?
The last US Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018, when the Bob Baffert-trained landed the Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
While in total, there have only been 13 horses to win all three races.
Every US Triple Crown Winners (13)
Here’s the full roll of honour-13 horses who managed to conquer the US Triple Crown.
- Sir Barton
- Gallant Fox
- Omaha
- War Admiral
- Whirlaway
- Count Fleet
- Assault
- Citation
- Secretariat
- Seattle Slew
- Affirmed
- American Pharoah
- Justify
The British Triple Crown Races Schedule Is Spread Out Over Four Months
In contrast, to the US Triple Crown races, in Britain their three big 3yold races are a lot more spread out.
The 2000 Guineas is run in May, the Epsom Derby in early June and the St Leger in September – meaning their Triple Crown races are spread out over around four months.
Nijinsky was the last horse to win all three British Triple Crown races in 1970.
