Mike Tirico Gets Brutally Honest About Triple Crown Schedule

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated May 16, 2025 10:33 AM ET

With the 2025 Preakness Stakes set to take place this Saturday, NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico has offered his thoughts on the Triple Crown schedule.

On May 3, Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, there won't be any chance of witnessing a Triple Crown winner. Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, announced that they won't participate in the Preakness Stakes on May 17.

While some people have ripped Sovereignty's trainer, Tirico refuses to do that. His main concern is the way the schedule is set up for the Preakness Stakes.

During an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show" this Thursday, Tirico questioned why there's such a short gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

"They used to wheel horses back every two weeks. Now, for the most part, the best thoroughbreds only run once every four, five, six weeks," Tirico said, via Awful Announcing. "That’s the normal window. To bring them back on two weeks’ rest from Derby to Preakness never happens during the year for these horses. So then why are you taking 21-plus million people who watched the Kentucky Derby, any momentum you might have built, and give the sport zero chance to build on that momentum?"

Tirico acknowledged that some sports don't want to ruin their traditions, but by sticking to this schedule, there's not a ton of hype surrounding the Preakness Stakes.

"The Triple Crown has been around for 140-some odd years, you don’t want to mess with tradition, I got it," Tirico continued. "But if you can’t follow this idea with anything that works right now in the sport, then we’re hurting the sport."

There won't be much of a break after the Preakness States. That's because the Belmont Stakes are set for June 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The Preakness Stakes will be televised on NBC this Saturday. Fans should expect to see Tirico on the broadcast in some capacity.

Journalism is the overwhelming favorite to win the Preakness Stakes, with River Thames having the second-best odds.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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