Preakness Stakes to be Held on May 23, 2027, Shifting to Fourth Sunday of May
The Maryland Jockey Club announced that the 2027 Preakness Stakes will move to Sunday, May 23, creating a longer gap after the Kentucky Derby and aligning the race with Memorial Day weekend festivities.
The Maryland Jockey Club said the 152nd Preakness Stakes will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2027, moving the race eight days later than its traditional third-Saturday slot. The change also shifts the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes to Saturday, May 22, extending the weekend of racing events in Baltimore.
Governor Wes Moore, the Maryland Jockey Club and NBC Sports disclosed the new schedule at a press conference in Annapolis on Aug. 5. The revised calendar places the Preakness 22 days after the Kentucky Derby and 13 days before the Belmont Stakes, altering the usual spacing of the Triple Crown races.
"Moving the Preakness to the fourth weekend in May is a historic announcement," said Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. He added that the extra week between the Derby and the Preakness could attract more participants who follow modern training practices.
The club, now operating as a not-for-profit organization, aims to draw Kentucky Derby winners back to the Preakness after recent instances where top Derby horses skipped the race in favor of the Belmont. Knauf emphasized a focus on preserving tradition while adapting the schedule to enhance Triple Crown participation.
"We have successfully secured the future of the Preakness here in the state of Maryland for decades to come," Governor Moore said, noting the renewed media rights agreement with NBC Sports that will keep the race on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The new date also aligns the event with Memorial Day weekend in most years, a move the club believes will boost local economic activity. While the change shortens the interval between the Preakness and Belmont, officials said the adjustment reflects broader trends in professional sports scheduling.
The announcement comes as Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association launched a separate six-race series for three-year-olds, offering $5 million in bonuses, though the series does not include the Preakness.