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Golden Tempo Skips Preakness, Ending Triple Crown Bid

5/6/2026

23 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Golden Tempo Skips

Golden Tempo will skip the Preakness, ending Triple Crown hopes.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux said the colt needs more time after his May 2, 2026 Derby win.
She will miss the May 16 Preakness at Laurel Park and the June 6 Belmont at Saratoga, citing health and future priorities.
DeVaux’s win makes her the first female Kentucky Derby trainer.
Golden Tempo follows Sovereignty, the third of the last five Derby winners to skip the Preakness.

Summary

Preakness Moves

The 2026 Preakness Stakes will move to Laurel Park in Maryland as Pimlico undergoes major redevelopment.
Churchill Downs Inc., which runs the Kentucky Derby, agreed to buy the Preakness’s intellectual-property rights, with media-rights talks slated for this month.
Critics say the two-week Derby-to-Preakness gap and three-week stretch to the Belmont may overtax horses.
Golden Tempo’s withdrawal leaves the 14-horse field, drawn Monday, uncertain.

History

Historical Context

Since its 1873 debut at Pimlico, the Preakness Stakes has rarely left Baltimore. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 race to October 3, breaking the traditional Triple Crown sequence. Now, because Maryland plans a $400 million reconstruction of Pimlico, the 151st Preakness will run on May 16 2026 at Laurel Park, and Derby winner Golden Tempo will skip the event.

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Golden Tempo Skips

Golden Tempo will skip the Preakness, ending Triple Crown hopes.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux said the colt needs more time after his May 2, 2026 Derby win.
She will miss the May 16 Preakness at Laurel Park and the June 6 Belmont at Saratoga, citing health and future priorities.
DeVaux’s win makes her the first female Kentucky Derby trainer.
Golden Tempo follows Sovereignty, the third of the last five Derby winners to skip the Preakness.

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