The Triple Crown is the biggest title in horseracing and includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The last of the trifecta will take place at Belmont Park, in Elmont, New York, and Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is competing. However, the horse was taken out of the Preakness Stakes, reopening an old debate about the challenge of the Triple Crown and the exertion it puts on racehorses. 

In the past 44 years, this is the 42nd time there won’t be a Triple Crown winner, with the last two notable victors being American Pharaoh and Justify, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. 

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Some argue for pushing back both the Preakness and Belmont stakes in favour of horses who aren’t used to racing on short turnarounds. However, many within the racing system believe that the Triple Crown should be a difficult feat to achieve. Saffie Joseph, the trainer of Preakness competitor Skippylongstocking, told New York Post “You want to make it easier just for a good horse to do it? You need a great horse to win the Triple Crown. I think it means a lot to have it the same way as it’s been.” 

Brutal scheduling

However, the races, which are crammed into a five-week period give most people pause. Owner Rick Dawson and trainer Eric Reed reached the decision that their horse would skip Preakness to get more rest and come back for the Belmont Stakes. “Obviously, with our tremendous effort and win in the Derby it’s very, very tempting to alter our course and run in the Preakness”, Dawson told The Forest Scout, the official Lake Forest High School student news publication. He added, “However, after much discussion and consideration with my trainer Eric Reed and a few others, we are going to stay with our plan.” 

The stakes at Belmont 

Part of the reason several people give the middle race a miss is because of the difficulties posed by the last track. The Belmont Stakes is a test of endurance. It is longer than the other tracks, which also influences the racing strategy. NPR reported Teresa Genaro, writer of the Brooklyn Backstretch blog which reflects on New York racing, saying, “Ordinarily, when they come around the far turn, that’s a good time to ask your horse to start to put in his maximum effort.” She added, “If you do that in the same spot on the track here as you do at other race tracks you’re still half a mile from the finish line — and you’re gonna use up your horse. And they’re probably going to run out of energy and speed before they get to the finish line.” 

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Another reason why winning at Belmont is tougher, is the sand mix used. Martin Panza, who was the senior vice president of racing operations at the New York Racing Association, which runs Belmont Park, told NPR “We get a lot of rain here, and there’s humidity. Therefore we use a much sandier mix” — hence the park’s nickname, the Big Sandy. It’s part of the equation, and it’s probably stopped some horses from winning the Triple Crown”.