I don't think that changing the TC spacing would be to create more TC winners. The most important thing is the health of the horse. Trainers are not responsible enough to skip the Preakness. Look at Hendricks. Why was he running in Pimlico? We need rules changes to protect the egomaniac Hendricks from ruining a really good horse like Bro Derek.

Hendricks wasn't responsible enough to skip that race. He let his ego in the way and wanted to go toe to toe w barbaro.

No matter how much spacing we have, it will still be very hard to win the TC.

By the Preakness being 2 weeks away from the Derby, its almost a 'freebie' for the Derby winner. People say the spacing makes the TC tougher to win, but don't forget that if the Preakness was 5 weeks away (or 4) you'd have 10 Derby also rans packing the gate for another go. The only people that are supposed to go to the Preakness are the Derby winner and new shooters. No Derby loser should be racing at Pimlico 2 weeks after the Derby. Any trainer subjecting a Derby loser to that race in Pimlico is dumb. He's going to ruin his horse. Did DH ruin BD? He's certainly trying.

Spacing would mean that a Derby winner would have to beat a 13 rivals at Pimlico and 13 rivals at Belmont and of course, 19 rivals in Ky.

So, yes, the spacing would be 'kinder' for the Derby winner, but also kinder for the Derby losers.

What if the Preakness was 5 weeks away for Funny Cide? He may have had to face Empire Maker in that race. How would the TC have become easier for FC if EM ran at Pimlico? Thats just an example, i'm sure there are many Derby winners who won by less than 2 lengths and the horse they beat didn't show up at Pimlico.

Also, lets face it, the TC isn't as impossible as people are making it out to seem.

If Real Quiet, Silver Charm and Smarty Jones were ridden by regular Belmont Park riders, they might have not been moved too soon and all win the TC. If all 3 of these win the TC, people aren't saying its impossible and the format needs to be changed.

Its not about the TC, its about the health of our best 3 year old stars. So, if the TC becomes easier, than it becomes easier.....our best stars will be better off anyway.

If it becomes easier, we benefit because our stars will stay around longer.