Golden Tempo Skips Preakness: Trainer Prioritizes Horse's Well-Being and Future

Golden Tempo Skips Preakness: Trainer Prioritizes Horse's Well-Being and Future

Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby winner, will not be participating in the upcoming Preakness Stakes, as announced by trainer Cherie DeVaux. The decision was made to give the horse more time to recover following its impressive performance in the Derby. DeVaux emphasized that Golden Tempo's well-being and future are top priorities and expressed excitement about pointing the horse towards the Belmont Stakes.

This marks the second consecutive year that the Derby winner has skipped the Preakness, with Sovereignty's trainer Bill Mott making a similar decision last year. The Triple Crown series, consisting of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, has faced criticism for its tight scheduling, which can be challenging for modern Thoroughbreds. There have been discussions about potentially adjusting the calendar to better accommodate the horses' well-being without compromising tradition.

Trainer Brad Cox, who won the 2021 Derby, has advocated for moving the Preakness to allow for more recovery time between races. He believes that prioritizing the health and longevity of the horses should take precedence over sticking to tradition. On the other hand, Mott, who skipped the Preakness in 2025 but went on to win the Belmont, believes that the Triple Crown format is fine as it is but acknowledges the importance of considering the horses' ability to compete in races beyond the Crown series.