Triple Crown tracks agree to extend late nomination deadline

The three tracks that host the Triple Crown have agreed to postpone the late nomination period for those races, which would have closed Monday, owing to the postponement of the Kentucky Derby because of the coronavirus pandemic and its potential impact on the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, according to a release put out Sunday by Churchill Downs, which hosts the Derby.

The Monday deadline would have given horses who were not early nominees to the Triple Crown for $600 back in January a chance to become eligible to the series for a $6,000 payment. Now, that deadline for the $6,000 payment has been postponed.

The Derby was originally scheduled for May 2, but has been pushed back to Sept. 5. The Preakness is scheduled for May 16, and though no new date has yet been announced by Pimlico, the office of the governor of Maryland announced earlier this month that the race would be postponed. The Belmont is scheduled for June 6. Racing is currently in hiatus in New York, with no return date yet known.

“When all three Triple Crown dates appear to be firm, a late Triple Crown nomination closing date will be announced,” the release said.

There were 347 horses nominated for $600 at the early deadline, which closed Jan. 25. Churchill Downs already announced that King Guillermo, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, has been nominated for $6,000 after not being an early nominee.