Ongoing Dispute over Triple Crown Schedule Resurfaces - Potential Resolution Suggested
St rolling at the Saratoga Race Course for the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival 🚀
It's go-time at Saratoga Springs! The horses are ready to sprint for the 157th Belmont Stakes, kicking off a five-day racing extravaganza from Wednesday to Sunday. This year's festival includes one additional racing day compared to last year. 🏇
But don't hold your breath for a 14th Triple Crown winner. Sadly, due to a questionable decision by Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, we won't see a triple champion this year. 🙅♂️
The main event will be a face-off between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness champion Journalism. However, Sovereignty's team had no interest in running twice in 15 days, according to the Daily Racing Form.
"If there ever would be a horse you could have tried the Triple Crown with, he might have been it," Mott said, as reported by DRF. "There was no reason physically why we couldn't have run in the Preakness. We had no other excuse than we didn't feel like it."
The dismissive attitude towards the Preakness left many scratching their heads, especially when you consider the time between races has been a popular topic of debate for years.
When American Pharoah finally ended the 37-year gap between Triple Crown winners in 2015, the discussion died down. But now, the questions are flowing again, not because of performance issues, but due to irresponsible choices.
Several horse trainers, like Michael McCarthy, Journalism's trainer and Umberto Rispoli, the jockey for Journalism, advocate for reconsidering the Triple Crown schedule.
"These races are tough. They're meant to be tough. The Belmont's a special race in its own right. I can't speak for any of the other connections skipping races, not making races. I just pay attention to my horse and make sure he's doing as well as he can be doing," McCarthy said. 🐎
But not everyone is open to the idea of change. Some stick to tradition, arguing that altering the schedule would compromise the historical significance of the Triple Crown. So, as Belmont Park undergoes a $550 million upgrade and the race is temporarily held at Saratoga, the question remains: can the Triple Crown grow with the times, or will it cling to the past? 🏢
What's your take on the situation? Post your thoughts below. 🗣️
Sources:1. Belmont Stakes Moved to Saratoga in 2025 Due to Construction2. Belmont Park Renovation Approved, $455 Million Plan to Officially Begin3. Godolphin's Sovereign Path Ahead Misses Preakness Stakes4. Analysts Weigh in on Shifting Side of the Debate: Should the Triple Crown Schedule Be Extended?
With the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival set to commence at Saratoga Race Course, horse racing enthusiasts eagerly await the showdown between Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby, and Journalism, champion of the Preakness. Unfortunately, Sovereignty's team has opted out of running in the Preakness and the Triple Crown, raising questions about the feasibility of adjusting the racing schedule to cater to horse welfare while preserving the historical significance of the Triple Crown.
