Triple Crown Restructuring: New Thoroughbred Championship Series Excludes Preakness

A major structural shakeup to the Triple Crown has been announced, with a new Thoroughbred Championship Series that excludes the Preakness Stakes, along with date shifts creating a 13-day gap between Preakness and Belmont, and growing trainer preference for longer spacing between races. This formalizes the fracture in the 3yo landscape and could affect handicapping models, prep race scheduling, and Derby trail validation for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The development is significant for North American racing but does not directly advance current AI/ML or prompt bank priorities.