On May 7th, TDN published my Letter to the Editor arguing that the Preakness should be moved so that it is not two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, given the paucity of connections of horses that raced in the Kentucky Derby and run in the Preakness with just two weeks rest. Making matters worse, and I give myself the “Captain Obvious Award” for noticing, now that Golden Tempo (Curlin) won the Kentucky Derby, skipped the Preakness, and then won the Belmont, repeating in the steps of Sovereignty last year, skipping the Preakness after the Kentucky Derby will seem like the only move to make.To be fair to the industry, finally, commentators within the industry are making the argument that the fans have been making—the Preakness has to move. But herein lies the problem, highlighted by NBC horse racing analyst Randy Moss and host Mike Tirico: NYRA (New York Racing Association) refuses to budge on changing the traditional date of the Belmont Stakes. TDN points this out itself in an article entitled “1/ST Racing Considering Moving Date of the Preakness; NYRA Not on Board with Move,” August 9, 2023, by Bill Finley. 2023 was a year in which only one horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby ran in the Preakness.I write at this time, because it is about now Pimlico has to start thinking about the date of the Preakness next year. Does the Maryland Jockey Club really want to have the Preakness run at the newly renovated Pimlico with few if any horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby? I believe that the Preakness should be moved so that it is four weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Most importantly, the Maryland Jockey Club should tell the New York Racing Association (NYRA) that such will be done regardless of the date NYRA choses for the Belmont Stakes. Simply put, the date of the Preakness should be moved whether or not NYRA is on board.Yes, I have thought of the problems with TV rights. Yes, I have thought of destroying the American Triple Crown if NYRA won't budge on the Belmont date. But as I write this, the American Triple Crown, the big extravaganza that garners the nation's attention is already ceasing to be a thing. Pimlico is in a position of bargaining advantage: both races have 2 million dollar purses, but the Preakness 1 3/16 mile distance is a lot more favorable for attracting Kentucky Derby horses than the Belmont's 1 ½ mile race, a distance most dirt horses will never race again. As to TV rights, the Belmont Stakes is 5 weeks after the Kentucky Derby, which would not conflict with a race 4 weeks after the Kentucky Derby.Does all this sound like game theory? It is. Unfortunately, since NYRA has in the past not budged on the date of the Belmont, it comes down to this. The Maryland Jockey Club should move the date of the Preakness so that it is 4 weeks after the Kentucky Derby and let NYRA know that if they refuse to change the date of the Belmont accordingly, so be it, but that a NYRA refusal will not stymie the change of the Preakness date. My gut instinct is that if this is done, NYRA will in all likelihood move the date of the Belmont. But even if NYRA does not budge on the date of the Belmont, the best move for Pimlico and horse racing generally is to move the Preakness date anyhow. The post Letter to the Editor: Rinaldo Del Gallo, III appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.