Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Wednesday that Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not compete in the Preakness on May 16 at Laurel Park, ending the Triple Crown pursuit for 2026.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort,” DeVaux wrote on X. “His health, happiness and long-term future will always remain our top priority.”
DeVaux added that Golden Tempo will target the Belmont on June 6 at Saratoga.
Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs by a neck over Renegade.
Golden Tempo will become the third of the past five Kentucky Derby winners to skip the Preakness, joining Rich Strike (2022) and Sovereignty (2025).
From 1997-2018, every Kentucky Derby winner went on to compete in the Preakness. Country House ended that streak in 2019 when he contracted a virus just days after the Kentucky Derby. He never raced again.
The decision regarding Golden Tempo is bound to add fire to the debate on the traditional spacing between the Triple Crown races — two weeks between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and three weeks between the Preakness and Belmont.
Sports Business Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported last month that the Preakness could move dates on the racing calendar starting in 2027.
DeVaux was asked about the debate Sunday.
“The Triple Crown is hard to win for a reason,” DeVaux said. “I appreciate the history of it. Horses are definitely different. They’re not built the same. They’re not trained the same as back then. But current times have shown that it can be done with the right horse.”
The Preakness draw is set for 5 p.m. Monday. The race will be held at Laurel Park this year because of renovations at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
