The dream of a Triple Crown winner in 2026 has officially ended before it could even begin. Golden Tempo, who captured the hearts of racing fans with his stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby earlier this month, will not be running in the Preakness Stakes on May 15. Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed the decision Wednesday, explaining that the colt needs extra time to recover from his grueling Derby performance.

"Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby," DeVaux wrote in a statement. "We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort." Instead, the Derby winner will set his sights on the Belmont Stakes on June 6, leaving the Preakness wide open.

This marks the second consecutive year that a Kentucky Derby champion has bypassed the Preakness, following Sovereignty's decision last year. The trend is fueling an ongoing debate in the Thoroughbred racing world: Is the traditional Triple Crown schedule—with just two weeks between the Derby and Preakness—simply too demanding for modern horses? Many trainers now believe that rushing a Derby winner back to the track risks long-term health and success, especially with lucrative summer and fall races on the horizon.

Speculation is growing that the Preakness itself could see a date change in the near future, especially as negotiations for the race's television rights come up for renewal after this year's running. For now, the 2026 Preakness will be held at Laurel Park, just south of Baltimore, while Pimlico Race Course undergoes a major grandstand renovation. Pimlico is expected to welcome the race back in 2027.

As of Wednesday, none of the 19 horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby have committed to the Preakness field, leaving the second leg of the Triple Crown wide open for new contenders. With no Triple Crown on the line, all eyes will be on which horses step up to claim the spotlight at Laurel Park.