Has the time finally come to change the dates of the Triple Crown?In an article posted Apr. 13 on the Sports Business Journal website, it was reported that the GI Preakness Stakes would be pushed back a week to be held three weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby in 2027. Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Bill Knauf, however, quickly shot down the report and denied that any decision had been made regarding the date of next year's Preakness.Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) famously skipped the second jewel of the Triple Crown and went on to add the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga five weeks later.Leading trainers Brad Cox, Chad Brown and Mark Glatt all weighed in on the hot-button topic while joining the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's national media teleconference previewing the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Thursday afternoon.Cox will have three shots at a second Kentucky Derby victory with GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment (Into Mischief), GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Further Ado (Gun Runner) and GIII Jeff Ruby S. winner Fulleffort (Liam's Map).The Cox-trained Mandaloun was promoted to first following the medication disqualification of Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Cox also trained Essential Quality to a win in that year's GI Belmont Stakes.“I'm all for moving it,” Cox said. “Listen, I get history and I'm a big fan of history, but the points system has changed the whole dynamic of trying to get into the Derby. The pressure it puts on the horses in regards to getting into the Derby, then to ask them to run 1 1/4 miles to try to have them the best that they can be on that particular day. To turn around and think you got to run 1 3/16 miles 14 days later, it's a lot.”Cox continued, “I understand and get the whole, 'If they're that good, they need to be able to do it.' But I think the health and the welfare of the horse comes first over tradition.”Is three weeks instead of two weeks enough spacing to the Preakness?“It's not enough, no,” Cox replied. “A lot of the trainers that have the success at the top level with these 3-year-olds would tell you that you would like more than three weeks as well.”Cox added, “I always tell people you could run a horse back on quick rest and get a really good effort. The question is, what do you have after the quick turnaround? I think that's one thing that people seem to lose sight of. We're very lucky to have Sovereignty around this year racing. I think it's great for the sport. And they obviously skipped the Preakness last year.”Brown, a two-time Preakness-winning trainer, has hit the board three times in the Derby, led by a pair of runner-up finishes with Sierra Leone in 2024 and Good Magic in 2018. He will saddle the two-for-two GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) in this year's Derby.“I guess the way I feel about it has evolved a bit year to year,” Brown said. “I initially was against the idea of changing such a historic schedule. It's really been in the fabric of the rich history of the sport and I'm normally opposed to (changing) those type of things.The more I think about it and the more I evaluate my own crops of horses year to year, it's pretty obvious that the horses benefit from more time in between races. They run a lot less than they used to over the course of time when you study the history.I guess we have to take a step back and look at what's best, even if it's an uncomfortable change. Most change is uncomfortable for whatever we do within our industry or life or what have you.Do we want to deal with some temporary discomfort of a change, but it's better for the health of the horse and for the industry? I'm definitely more open minded to it now looking at it.”Brown added, “I would predict it is gonna change, certainly before my career is over.”The Southern California-based veteran trainer Glatt will be represented by his first career Kentucky Derby starter with GI Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy (Runhappy).“In today's world that we live in, there's a lot of reasons for changing the schedule,” Glatt concluded. “At the same time, tradition is tradition, but we live in a different world. I lean more towards changing the schedule.”The post ‘I’m All for Moving It’ – Leading Trainers Brad Cox, Chad Brown & Mark Glatt Weigh in on Changing Triple Crown Dates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.