Saturday's Belmont Stakes delivered another electric performance from Golden Tempo, but instead of celebration, the air was thick with frustration. The Kentucky Derby champion charged down the stretch to claim the "Run for the Carnations," yet many fans felt cheated—not by the horse, but by the sport's outdated schedule.
Golden Tempo's decision to skip the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, has ignited a firestorm of disappointment. Social media erupted with fans lamenting what could have been a historic sweep. "We were robbed of a triple crown," one user posted, echoing a sentiment that spread like wildfire across platforms. Another fan added, "No doubt in my mind Golden Tempo wins the Preakness. Horse Racing needs a better schedule."
Trainer Cherie DeVaux made history by becoming the first female trainer to win two legs of the Triple Crown, but even that milestone was overshadowed by the controversy. Pat Forde didn't mince words: "No Triple Crown bid for Golden Tempo … because the sport's calendar is outdated and he understandably skipped the Preakness. Fix it."
Golden Tempo's absence from the Preakness has reignited a long-standing debate about the grueling five-week gauntlet that is the Triple Crown. Critics argue that the compressed timeline forces trainers to choose between their horse's well-being and a shot at immortality. DeVaux's decision, though strategic, left fans hungry for more. Joey DeBerardino captured the mood: "Shame we didn’t get to see this horse run in the Preakness for a shot at the Triple Crown."
Even Dave Portnoy, known for his bold takes, admitted he'd written off Golden Tempo before the Belmont. "Hand up. I threw out Golden Tempo. He jammed it down my throat," Portnoy said. "It sucks he didn’t have a chance to win the Triple Crown but what a monster."
The debate has spurred calls for reform, with many pointing to the growing Triple Crown debate as evidence that the sport needs to evolve. Some have suggested spacing out the races or allowing more flexibility for top horses to compete in all three. Others, however, defend the tradition, arguing that the Triple Crown's difficulty is what makes it special.
DeVaux, for her part, has fired back at critics over the Preakness skip, emphasizing that her priority is the horse's health and career longevity. "We made the right call," she said in a recent interview. "Golden Tempo is a once-in-a-generation talent, and we're not going to risk that for a shot at history."
Despite the controversy, Golden Tempo's Belmont victory was nothing short of breathtaking. With jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, the colt unleashed a powerful closing kick that left rivals in the dust. The win cemented his status as one of the most exciting horses in recent memory, even if the Triple Crown remains elusive.
For now, racing fans are left to wonder what might have been. The wait for the next Triple Crown winner continues, but the conversation about the sport's schedule is far from over. As one fan put it, "Golden Tempo is amazing. He could have been a Triple Crown winner."
