Dave Portnoy Defends Golden Tempo Skipping The Preakness Stakes
For the second year in a row and the fifth time in the last eight years, the Kentucky Derby winner is choosing to skip the Preakness and give up on pursuing the prestigious Triple Crown. But while a serious debate is taking place over whether to preserve the traditions of the sport or make the races easier on the horses, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy had a somewhat unexpected take.
Taking to X on Thursday, Portnoy shared Golden Tempo trainer Cherie DeVaux's announcement that the Derby-winner would be skipping the Preakness. Portnoy declared that while he used to be upset over situations like that, he's changed his mind.
Portnoy said that the Preakness owners don't care enough about horse racing itself, so he doesn't care about the Preakness. He said that racing owners and connections should just do what's best for the horse instead now.
"I used to get mad about Derby winners skipping Preakness. That it was bad for the sport. But the people who own the Preakness don't give a flying [expletive] about horse racing so I've changed my tune. Owners and connections should do what's best for the horse," Portnoy wrote on X.
Racing fans found it hard to disagree based on what they've seen from the sport in recent years.
"Good point! Track owners & politicians ruined racing. 30 years ago they opted to market betting instead of sport. People loved the horses &spectacle. Tracks chose handle & forgot where it came from. Now there's no tracks to watch & race as a daily event..." one user remarked.
"Racing horses multiple times in such a short timeframe is asking for injury or extreme fatigue. Never understood why it happens so shortly after the derby," another admitted.
"It is all about the horse, not human ego, or at least it should be. If the horse comes out of the Derby the right way then it is a green light, if not, skipping makes sense. Not every Derby winner is ready to run back in two weeks," a third wrote.
Golden Opportunity for Golden Tempo
Golden Tempo was a longshot to win the Kentucky Derby in the first place. He was a 23-1 underdog at the starting gate and had to run down the entire field of horses to edge out Renegade for the win.
Many racing fans believe that even if Golden Tempo did compete in the Preakness, he wouldn't stand a chance over the shorter distance in the race.
But that's besides the point.
The more important issue is whether the notoriously short space in between the two races is becoming too much of a turn off for trainers and risks making nobody compete for the rarest prize in sporst.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:39 AM.