Churchill Downs and NYRA Launch Thoroughbred Championship Series Bypassing Preakness Stakes
TL;DR — Churchill Downs Inc. and NYRA announced a six-race Thoroughbred Championship Series starting with the Kentucky Derby next May and ending in September, with a $5 million points-based prize pool. It notably skips the Preakness after Maryland acquired its IP rights. The move seeks to align with modern horse rest schedules and maintain fan interest via NBC and FOX broadcasts.
SCCG Take — This points-based format offers a structural shift toward sustained engagement in thoroughbred racing. Operators and regulators should track its uptake as a test of balancing tradition with commercial incentives.
Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association announced the Thoroughbred Championship Series, a six-race schedule for 3-year-old horses. It begins next May with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and ends in September with a yet-to-be-named race at the Louisville track. The series includes the Belmont Stakes, the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs, and the Jim Dandy and Travers at Saratoga.
$5 million will be awarded among the eight horses earning the most points. Horses must enter just four of the six races to qualify for the bonus. The announcement follows Maryland’s closure on Preakness intellectual property rights after intervening in Churchill Downs’ $85 million bid for those rights.
Series Structure and Objectives
David O’Rourke, NYRA President and CEO, said the series “builds on top of the Triple Crown, or alongside it.” He added, “We don’t change anything with that. I still see the Triple Crown as one of the biggest, rarest things in sports.” Recent Derby winners skipped the Preakness due to the tight two-week turnaround, as modern racing favors about a month between starts.
The series leverages national TV partnerships on NBC and FOX to sustain fan interest beyond the Triple Crown. It aims to put the best 3-year-olds on the same track more often with a points-based championship and bonus incentive. Bill Carstanjen, Churchill Downs CEO, said fans “want a championship they can follow throughout an entire season, and they want to see a champion crowned each year to celebrate.”
Reactions and the Path Forward for Racing
Reactions reflect the sport’s deep traditions. Bob Baffert (@BobBaffert) posted on X: “I am in favor of any and all new ideas to grow racing and increase interest in our sport. So I welcome The Thoroughbred Series introduced by Churchill and the NYRA and I look forward to competing in the new series. But the greatest achievement in racing will always be winning… The Preakness is integral to racing’s history, present, and future, and I hope nothing detracts from its significance.”
Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) offered a sharper view: “The Triple Crown, as we knew it, was already dead. They just finally got around to the funeral.” Mike Repole (@RepoleStable), co-owner of recent contender Renegade, applauded the partners “for working together in the best interests of the sport” and posted that while “one three-year-old colt racing series is not going to save the game,” the underlying process “can be (an expletive) game changer.”
The teleconference rollout hit early snags, ending after one question. This series tests whether structured innovation can broaden appeal while respecting history. Success hinges on participation from other tracks and sustained buy-in across stakeholders.
Reporting: Gambling Insider
A $5M points championship that prioritizes horse health and broadcast reach over Triple Crown tradition—racing's biggest structural shift in decades.
We've partnered with racing operators for 30 years, and this is the clearest signal yet that content and wagering calendars are decoupling from heritage events. Points-based formats drive sustained handle and audience retention—exactly what our sportsbook and media partners need as racing competes for share of wallet.
- $5M prize pool across six races, Derby to September; horses need only four starts to qualify
- Skips Preakness after Maryland blocked Churchill's $85M IP bid, citing modern rest schedules
- NBC and FOX broadcast partnerships anchor fan engagement beyond the Triple Crown window
SCCG angle: SCCG works both sides: we've helped sportsbooks integrate racing content and advise track operators on digital wagering partnerships. When formats shift like this, we connect the dots—aligning broadcast windows, bonus structures, and handle optimization across our operator and supplier network.