Honestly, the Triple Crown is the only time most people pay any attention to horse racing. You probably know the drill: big hats, mint juleps, and a whole lot of screaming at the TV. But 2025 was a bit of a weird one. If you’re looking back at the schedule or trying to figure out why the "Test of the Champion" didn't look like it usually does, you've gotta understand that the logistics were a mess of construction and tradition.
The question of when are the triple crown races 2025 is usually a simple "May and June" answer. But the 2025 season had some specific quirks, especially with where the horses actually ran. We had a massive renovation project in New York that basically uprooted the third leg and moved it to a completely different town.
Here is the quick rundown of the dates everyone was marking on their calendars:
- Kentucky Derby: May 3, 2025
- Preakness Stakes: May 17, 2025
- Belmont Stakes: June 7, 2025
The Run for the Roses: Saturday, May 3
Churchill Downs. Louisville. The first Saturday in May. It’s the most predictable thing in sports, yet it never gets old. The 151st Kentucky Derby went down on May 3, 2025. Post time was set for 6:57 p.m. ET, though if you've ever watched, you know they spend about three hours beforehand talking about fashion and celebrity sightings.
The purse was a staggering $5 million. That's a lot of hay.
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Sovereignty ended up taking the win here. Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Godolphin, the colt put on a show. It’s funny because everyone always looks at the Derby winner and immediately starts the "Triple Crown watch." The hype is instant.
The Middle Jewel: Saturday, May 17
Two weeks later, the circus moved to Baltimore. The 150th Preakness Stakes happened on May 17, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course. This race is always a bit shorter—1 3/16 miles compared to the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles.
Here is where the Triple Crown dream usually dies.
In 2025, it didn't even get a chance to live. Sovereignty, the Derby winner, actually skipped the Preakness. It’s becoming more common for trainers to rest their horses instead of pushing them through that grueling two-week turnaround. Instead, a horse named Journalism won the Preakness under jockey Umberto Rispoli.
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A lot of fans hate this. They feel like if the Derby winner isn't there, the Preakness loses its soul. But from a horse health perspective? It’s hard to argue with resting a multimillion-dollar athlete.
The Saratoga Swap: Saturday, June 7
This is the part that tripped everyone up. If you showed up at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, for the 157th Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2025, you found a construction site.
Because of a massive $455 million renovation at Belmont Park, the race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
This changed everything.
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- The Distance: Traditionally, the Belmont is a 1 1/2-mile "marathon." But Saratoga’s track isn't built for that. So, the 2025 Belmont Stakes was shortened to 1 1/4 miles.
- The Vibe: Saratoga is "The Spa." It’s an old-school, summer-resort-style track.
- The Winner: Sovereignty came back for this one. Even though he skipped the middle leg, he proved he was the best of the crop by beating Journalism in a rematch.
Why the 2025 Schedule Felt Different
The Triple Crown is a test of endurance. Usually, it's three races in five weeks at three different distances. By shortening the Belmont to 1 1/4 miles, some purists felt like the 2025 series was "Triple Crown Lite."
It basically meant the horses ran the same distance in the third leg as they did in the first. The "Test of the Champion" wasn't quite the same test of stamina it normally is.
Watching the 2025 Races
If you missed them live, the broadcasts were split up. NBC handled the Derby and the Preakness, while Fox Sports took over for the Belmont.
The ratings were actually pretty solid for the Belmont, mostly because Saratoga is such a legendary venue. People were curious to see how the "Test of the Champion" would look on a different stage.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to follow the Triple Crown in the future or want to dive deeper into what happened in 2025, here's what you should do:
- Check the 2026 Schedule: Since Belmont Park is still under renovation, the Belmont Stakes is headed back to Saratoga again in June 2026. Mark your calendars for June 6, 2026.
- Watch the Replays: Go to the NBC Sports or Fox Sports YouTube channels to watch Sovereignty’s wins in the Derby and Belmont. The tactical difference between the two tracks is fascinating.
- Follow the Pedigrees: If you like the betting side, look up Sovereignty’s sire. Winning two legs of the Triple Crown usually makes a horse's breeding value skyrocket.
The 2025 season reminded us that while the dates might be consistent, the sport is always evolving. Whether it’s moving tracks or horses skipping races, the Triple Crown remains a messy, beautiful, and totally unpredictable spectacle.