The best 4-year-olds in the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May.
Three weeks later, the Preakness Stakes. Three weeks after that, the Belmont Stakes.
Such changes to the Triple Crown might be necessary. The aforementioned scenario gives the horses another much-needed year to develop and mature before encountering the gantlet of the Triple Crown, and it allows for an extra week of recuperation between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Traditionalists might shriek, but what good is tradition if it is hurting the sport? Many experts and some of the sport's best trainers say the debilitating Triple Crown pursuit exacts too much of a toll on the still-developing 3-year-olds. They frequently are overworked into breakdowns, damaging the sport and its athletes.
The Triple Crown can be better for the horses, and retain its luster, with modifications. Changing to 4-year-olds means like-aged horses still will be facing each other, and an extra week between the first and second race easily could be implemented.
The primary rationale for not changing is tradition. Tradition is great, but horse racing might be suffering because it clings to tradition instead of adapting for the sport's betterment. Whatever would be lost by the suggested changes would be more than offset by the potential gains.
Rave: Rules make sports great
Tampa Bay can win the Stanley Cup, and that is why sports is fabulous.
The Lightning has a relatively puny payroll, but on the ice or field or court, wherever athletes are competing, money might buy the best team available but it can't buy a win.
That's because the games are inherently fair.
The Yankees, for all the money they spend, can only put nine players on the field. It's not 17 vs. nine when the Yankees play the Rays, or eight on five when the Lakers play the Spurs.
The same rules apply to all teams, the same officials call it for both sides, the same balls and bats and sticks and gloves and rackets and clubs are available to all players (almost always).
And an impartial truth guides the outcome: the score.
Not a judge's opinion (we're not counting figure skating and gymnastics here), not anything subjective. Not who has more or better lawyers, more clout with the commissioner, more merchandising revenue or a better arena - none of that means squat from the moment the game starts until it ends.
Players determine the outcome. Score more goals, points or runs and you win.
Which is why the Lightning can make a run for the Stanley Cup, and why sports is beautiful.
