美国赛马业推出了一项重大改革，新设纯血马冠军系列赛，涵盖肯塔基德比和贝尔蒙特赛马，但将普瑞克内斯赛排除在外[1]。这一变化打破了传统三冠赛的格局。根据新赛程安排，肯塔基德比定于5月第一个星期六举办，普瑞克内斯赛改期至5月23日（德比后三周一天），贝尔蒙特赛则定于6月5日进行[1]。
这样的日程设置引发了对参赛马匹的担忧。普瑞克内斯赛与贝尔蒙特赛之间仅间隔13天，被认为对马匹的体能挑战过大[1]。业内人士预计，2027年将几乎肯定是连续第九年没有三冠赛冠军产生[1]。此前，丘吉尔赛马场公司曾在4月同意以8500万美元收购普瑞克内斯知识产权，但马里兰州于6月行使优先购买权，选择保留该赛事的知识产权[1]。尽管存在争议，名人堂训练员Bob Baffert和马主Mike Repole等业界人士表示支持这项新的冠军系列赛[1]。
American thoroughbred racing has undergone significant changes that threaten the traditional Triple Crown format.[1] A newly created bloodstock championship series will include the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes but exclude the Preakness, fundamentally altering the structure of racing's most prestigious competition.[1]
The scheduling changes compound the challenges.[1] The Kentucky Derby is set for the first Saturday in May, the Preakness has been rescheduled to May 23—three weeks and one day later—and the Belmont Stakes will take place on June 5.[1] This 13-day gap between the Preakness and Belmont is considered too demanding for competing horses, and the arrangement appears likely to prevent any Triple Crown winner from emerging for a ninth consecutive year in 2027.[1]
The restructuring followed a complex ownership transition.[1] Churchill Downs Incorporated agreed in April to purchase the Preakness intellectual property for $85 million, but Maryland exercised its right of first refusal in June to retain ownership of the Preakness brand.[1] Despite these changes to the traditional format, the new championship series has found support among prominent figures in the sport, including Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and thoroughbred owner Mike Repole.[1]