Is Golden Tempo in the Preakness? Explaining Kentucky Derby winner's absence from Triple Crown race
Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby, but with just two weeks of turnaround time, he is not competing in the Preakness. Here's what to know about the horse's absence.
Is Golden Tempo in the Preakness? Explaining Kentucky Derby winner's absence from Triple Crown race originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
After 23-1 odds made Golden Tempo a longshot at the Kentucky Derby, he came through for a massive, unexpected victory. Now as a favorite, and the only horse with a shot at the 2026 Triple Crown, Golden Tempo's trainer and ownership was charged with the task of deciding on the importance of the Preakness Stakes. The Kentucky Derby was the slam dunk race to participate in.
It has a purse over twice the size of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. It also comes with the most notoriety. But with just two weeks of time between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, the horse's health needs to be in consideration.
Here's how that has impacted Golden Tempo's status for the 2026 Preakness. MORE : Fast facts to know ahead of Preakness Stakes 2026 Will Golden Tempo run the Preakness? Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness stakes Saturday due to the two-week timeframe between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.