In outlining a six-race championship series for 3-year-olds that will include the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Travers Stakes (G1), as well as a new championship race for sophomores, executives from Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association expressed hope Aug. 3 that the new series built around racing's glamor division will draw more attention to the sport.
As currently constructed, the approach figures to negatively impact United States racing's most successful fan draw in history, the Triple Crown. The new series that will offer an added $5 million prize pool for the eight top finishers does not include the Preakness Stakes (G1). As horsemen interested in pursuing the bonus would likely be less inclined to start in a race outside the series, the Triple Crown's traditional second jewel would figure to lose some shine.
In a news conference that followed up on a Monday morning release about the new series, CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen and NYRA president and CEO David O'Rourke outlined the new plan. They noted its strengths of building off the Kentucky Derby, offering the races at iconic venues, and leaning into strong television partners, NBC and FOX Sports. Carstanjen, who called the series "one of the most significant developments in Thoroughbred racing in decades," said it will be packaged in a way that appeals to modern sports fans.
"Every year, the Kentucky Derby introduces millions of people to a new generation of stars and reminds us why this sport holds such a special place in American culture," Carstanjen said. "But today's fans experience sports differently than they did even a decade ago. They want stories that unfold over time. They want rivalries, standings, and meaningful competition that builds from one event to the next. They want a championship they can follow throughout an entire season, and want to see a champion crowned each year to celebrate. That's exactly what Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association have set out to create."
With today's connections typically giving horses more time between races, O'Rourke noted that the six-race, spread-out schedule has a good chance of producing rivalries.
"This format is built on standings, a season-long chase that develops real rivalries and brings a playoff atmosphere to racing, beginning on the first Saturday in May and continuing into the early fall," O'Rourke said. "It's a structure sports fans instantly understand, and with the reach of our television partners at FOX and NBC, we'll be able to tell the compelling stories and introduce the personalities that have always been at the heart of this sport."
The inaugural 2027 Thoroughbred Championship Series is expected to include the:
- Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1
- Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 5
- Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in July (exact date TBD)
- Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course in late July/early August (exact date TBD)
- Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in late August (exact date TBD)
- Championship race at Churchill Downs in September (exact date TBD)
The Maryland Jockey Club has not yet announced the date of the 2027 Preakness Stakes or date plans for that race going forward. It has been considering a move to provide more time than the traditional two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. MJC officials on Monday had no comment on the new series.
While NYRA and CDI are investing in the new series—beyond the $5 million bonus, each race is scheduled to offer a purse of at least $1 million—O'Rourke believes the Triple Crown can continue. He even suggested the Preakness could be added to the series.
"The Triple Crown shows us every year how powerful these events capture the public imagination," O'Rourke said. "Our aim is to carry that energy across the full season and give the fans a reason to stay with the sport's best 3-year-olds from May into the fall. We also believe a stronger, more connected 3-year-old season is good for everyone in the sport—for the horses, for the horsemen, and for the fans who follow them."
He later added: "In terms of what we're doing today, we're announcing the beginning of it," O'Rourke said. "We wanted to set the foundation, but in no way does this touch the Triple Crown."
The series schedule also would make racing in such lucrative contests as the Haskell Stakes (G1) in July and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in September difficult for horses pursuing the bonus money. O'Rourke said there were no discussions with the hosts of those races, Monmouth Park and Parx Racing, respectively, ahead of Monday's announcement of the series. Officials from those two tracks declined Monday to comment on the series.
O'Rourke said that while the series carries "championship" in its name, he expects the Eclipse Awards voting to still determine the champion 3-year-old male. Each race will be broadcast to a national television audience. The Churchill Downs races will air on NBC, while the NYRA races will air on FOX.
As 3-year-olds typically need to race in at least two Kentucky Derby prep races to qualify for that classic, series success likely would require training and racing from January or February through the championship race in September. O'Rourke said he's confident the sport's new emphasis on safety in recent years, overseen by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, will protect entered horses.
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.
CDI and NYRA said additional information regarding the race schedule, points system, eligibility rules, prize distribution, and branding will be released shortly.
"The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season," Carstanjen said. "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."
It is a compelling new approach that figures to further impact one of racing's most successful stories: the Triple Crown, specifically the Preakness.
