When trainer Cherie DeVaux opted not to run Golden Tempo in the Preakness in May, it marked the third time in five years that the Kentucky Derby winner skipped the second leg of the Triple Crown.
DeVaux’s decision, borne out of concern over her horse’s recovery, reignited what’s become a familiar refrain around horse racing: Does the race calendar need to be changed?
On Monday, two of the sport’s biggest stakeholders came together to provide a little calendar clarity. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and Churchill Downs Incorporated announced a partnership to form what they’ve called the Thoroughbred Championship Series (TCS), a collection of six races that begins with the Kentucky Derby in May and ends with a championship race in September.
Via a points system, entrants will not only compete for prize money in individual races but also vie for a $5 million prize pool divided up based on the series’ final standings.
“The inaugural Thoroughbred Championship Series was developed by CDI and NYRA around a shared vision for a season-long championship and a group of races that provided the right foundation to launch in 2027. We felt it was important to move forward and establish that foundation with the six races announced today,” said Breck Thomas-Ross, senior director of communications for Churchill Downs Incorporated, in a statement to CNN Sports.
