Horse racing needs shakeup

This week’s news that not even one horse will run in all three of the Triple Crown horse races this summer breathes life into the argument that the sport needs to re-think its schedule, and marketability.
Since the biggest side effect of enhanced breeding practices is the reduced stamina and durability of elite 3-year-olds, horse racing needs to space out its schedule. One idea is to have the Kentucky Derby in its traditional spot of the first Saturday in May, move The Preakness to the first Saturday in June, back three weeks, and move The Belmont to July Fourth weekend, back a month.
While that might lead critics to scream for an asterisk, since horses like War Admiral, Secretariat and Affirmed, who won all three legs, didn’t have that luxury, it’s needed to restore interest in the sport. Television ratings from this year’s Preakness plummeted after the Derby was seen by 16.5 million fans.
Some might remember the days when horse racing and boxing were at the forefront of the sports lexicon, but there are many more entertainment options these days, and like the lack of a true heavyweight in boxing, horse racing has lacked a true star that could challenge for the Triple Crown. The closest might’ve been Smarty Jones in 2004. That’s why it needs to manufacture interest.
The lazy idea to restore the missing passion is have a Triple Crown winner, since it hasn’t been done since Affirmed in 1978. But a consolation could be a true rivalry, like Sunday Silence and Easy Goer, or even Seabiscuit and War Admiral. One of those that has animosity between all the connections, from the owners to the grooms.
Since all major sporting events are played or run in prime time now, horse racing needs to catch up. Churchill Downs has experimented with summer night racing to roaring success. It would add an element of intrigue for the purists, and bring in casual fans, who may be bored by the once a year circus.
This Triple Crown season feels like it was over before it got out of the paddock. Before the sport becomes truly irrelevant, major moves need to happen to reach the mainstream fan with plenty of entertainment choices.