Rich Strike, Winner of the Kentucky Derby, Will Skip the Preakness

Dawson said one possible plan was to run the horse, nicknamed Ritchie, in the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 11, but in any event to give him five to six weeks between races.

“Obviously, with our tremendous effort and win in the Derby, it’s very, very tempting to alter our course and run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honor for all our group,” Dawson continued. “However, after much discussion and consideration with my trainer, Eric Reed, and a few others, we are going to stay with our plan of what’s best for Ritchie is what’s best for our group, and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont in approximately five weeks.”

In a statement, Reed said of the horse: “What matters most is what’s best for him. We hate the decision we had to make but it was the right one.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/12/sports/horse-racing/rich-strike-preaknesss.html