The Maryland Jockey Club and state officials announced that the 2027 Preakness Stakes will move to Sunday, May 23, shifting the historic Triple Crown jewel eight days later than its traditional spot to help attract Kentucky Derby runners and create a major holiday weekend festival in Baltimore.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown is breaking away from a calendar slot it has occupied for more than half a century. At an August 5 press conference in Annapolis, Maryland, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the Maryland Jockey Club, and NBC Sports detailed a sweeping schedule shift for the 152nd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Instead of holding the race on its traditional third Saturday in May, organizers will run the historic race on Sunday, May 23, 2027.
Pimlico Adjusts the Triple Crown Calendar for Modern Training
The calendar change stretches the gap between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness from the traditional 14 days out to 22 days. For the newly structured Maryland Jockey Club—now operating under a not-for-profit model after taking over control from The Stronach Group—the primary goal is enticing top-tier 3-year-olds to make the trip to Baltimore after running at Churchill Downs.
In recent years, connections of healthy Kentucky Derby winners have opted to skip the middle jewel entirely, pointing their horses instead toward the Belmont Stakes five weeks later. That strategy yielded back-to-back classic doubles when Sovereignty swept those races in 2025 and Golden Tempo repeated the feat.
“Moving the Preakness to the fourth weekend in May is a historic announcement. We believe the Preakness and the entire Triple Crown series are positioned for growth and great success. This extra week between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods.”
Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club
Knauf acknowledged that while traditionalists revere the historic spacing of the Triple Crown series, professional sports demand flexibility. Our focus is to preserve the tradition of horses running back in the Preakness and to enhance participation in the Triple Crown races,
he noted.
Building a Championship Weekend Around Memorial Day
Along with shifting the headline race to Sunday, organizers are reshaping the entire week of festivities at Pimlico. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes card, traditionally staged on Friday afternoon as Preakness Eve, moves to Saturday, May 22, creating a two-day championship showcase.
While the 2027 race falls just a weekend before Memorial Day, organizers note that the date will align with the holiday weekend in most future years. State and track leaders view that intersection as an economic engine for Baltimore.
“We are going to build a championship weekend in Baltimore, with the Black-Eyed Susan now on Saturday. In most years, this new date falls on Memorial Day weekend, and we believe this creates tremendous excitement for our local economy and businesses. Baltimore will become the place to be on Memorial Day weekends, as the spotlight of the racing world descends on Pimlico.”
Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club
The Preakness has maintained its third-weekend slot since 1950, with the sole exception of 2020.
Broadcasting Commitments and Competing Series
Even as the Maryland Jockey Club plots its new calendar, the broader landscape of American horse racing is shifting rapidly. Just days before the Pimlico announcement, Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association unveiled a six-race championship series for 3-year-olds offering $5 million in bonus money—a lucrative circuit that notably excludes the Preakness.
Furthermore, keeping the Belmont Stakes five weeks after the Kentucky Derby means the new Preakness date leaves just a 13-day turnaround between the second and third legs of the Triple Crown, adding a fresh endurance test for participants.
To cement its long-term stability through these changes, the Maryland Jockey Club renewed its media rights agreement with NBC Sports. The partnership, which dates back to 2001, ensures that NBC and Peacock will broadcast the Preakness through 2032, making it the longest-standing broadcast partner in the race’s history.
“We have successfully secured the future of the Preakness here in the state of Maryland for decades to come; and I am delighted that the Maryland Jockey Club has renewed its media partnership with NBC and Peacock as we enter this exciting new era.”
Gov. Wes Moore, Maryland
As state officials continue pushing historic investments into Pimlico Race Course to anchor Maryland’s cultural and economic landscape, the success of the May 23 shift will ultimately rest on whether trainers accept the new calendar and return their top classic contenders to Baltimore.
Worth a look
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