Full Breakdown
New Season-Long Championship for 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds
8/4/2026, 2:05:25 AM
Core Announcement
On August 3, 2026, Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) and the New York Racing Association announced a partnership to launch the “Thoroughbred Championship Series” (TCS) in 2027. The six-race, five-month schedule will begin with the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2027 and conclude with a championship race at Churchill Downs in September. The series will also feature the Belmont Stakes on June 5, 2027, the Matt Winn Stakes (July, date TBD) at Churchill Downs, the Grade-II Jim Dandy Stakes (late July/early August) and the Grade-I Travers Stakes (late August) at Saratoga. A unified points system will determine final standings, and a $5 million bonus pool will be awarded in addition to each race’s purse. NBC will broadcast the CDI races, while FOX will carry the NYRA events.
Background & Context
The traditional Triple Crown—Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes—has long defined the sport’s premier achievement. In April 2026, CDI agreed to acquire the intellectual rights to the Preakness Stakes for $85 million. Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced on July 30 that the state matched the offer, retaining ownership of the Preakness trademark. The new TCS omits the Preakness, prompting speculation about the race’s future calendar placement.
Data & Statistics
- Series composition: Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Matt Winn Stakes (G3), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), Travers Stakes (G1), Championship Race (date TBD).
- Prize pool: $5 million distributed to the top eight finishers based on points.
- Rights acquisition: $85 million paid by Maryland to secure Preakness intellectual property.
- Broadcast partners: NBC (CDI races) and FOX (NYRA races).
Criticism & Opposition
Industry observers noted potential adverse effects on smaller tracks that host their own 3-year-old derbies, suggesting the series could divert attention and purse money away from those events.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Preakness Stakes is a cornerstone of Maryland's history, culture, and economy – so our administration is dedicated to preserving our state as a key power player in the Triple Crown for generations to come,” — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
- “The greatest achievement in racing will always be winning the Triple Crown - The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes,” — Bob Baffert
- “I applaud @ChurchillDowns and @TheNYRA for working together in the best interests of the sport and for recognizing that evolution requires innovation, real change and the courage to do things differently,” — Mike Repole
- “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,” — David O’Rourke, president and CEO
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The exact date for the 2027 Preakness Stakes remains unannounced, and officials from the Maryland Jockey Club have not provided a timeline for the race’s placement. Detailed rules and eligibility criteria for the points system have yet to be released.
What’s Next
CDI and NYRA indicated that additional information on the points system, nomination process, and championship-race date will be released “shortly.” Stakeholders anticipate further statements from the Maryland Jockey Club regarding the Preakness schedule and from other major tracks about potential adjustments to their own 3-year-old stakes programs.
