So, everyone is asking the same thing: when is the journalism horse next race actually happening? If you were hoping to see the Preakness winner kick off his four-year-old season at Gulfstream Park this month, I've got some news that might bum you out. He’s not running in the Pegasus World Cup.
Honestly, the rumors were flying for a minute there. Don Alberto Stable even teased it on social media, but they yanked that post down faster than a longshot fades in the stretch. It turns out trainer Michael McCarthy and the massive ownership group—which includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and the Coolmore "lads"—decided their star colt needed a bit more "me time" down in Ocala before hitting the track again.
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Where is Journalism Right Now?
Right now, Journalism is basically on vacation. After a grueling 2025 where he danced every dance—running in all three Triple Crown legs and finishing up with a fourth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic—he earned a break. He’s currently at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida.
He’s being "freshened up," which is horse racing speak for letting a horse be a horse for a few weeks. No early morning breezes, no high-pressure gate schooling. Just grass, sun, and maybe a few extra carrots. The plan is to ship him back to Michael McCarthy’s barn in Southern California toward the start of 2026.
It’s a smart move. Look at his 2025 record. It’s insane. He won the Santa Anita Derby, the Preakness, and the Haskell. He was second in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont. That is a lot of miles on a young horse’s legs. Pushing him to be ready for a $3 million race on January 24th just felt like asking for trouble.
The Journalism Horse Next Race: Target Spotted
If the Pegasus is out, what’s the real target for the journalism horse next race? McCarthy has dropped some pretty heavy hints that they are looking at the Metropolitan Handicap—better known as the Met Mile.
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Usually, the Met Mile runs on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Since the Belmont is staying at Saratoga again in 2026 while they finish the construction at the "Big A" (Aqueduct), we’re looking at a June date. Specifically, the Belmont festival is slated for June 4–7, 2026. That gives Journalism plenty of time to get his fitness back.
Why the Met Mile?
You might wonder why they’d wait until June. Why skip the big winter prizes?
- Stallion Value: Journalism is by Curlin out of Mopotism. He’s already worth a fortune as a sire. Winning a race like the Met Mile—one of the most prestigious "stallion-making" races in America—would send his future stud fee into the stratosphere.
- The Mile Specialists: While he’s won at 1 3/16 miles (the Preakness), many experts think a one-turn mile or 1 1/8 miles is actually his "sweet spot."
- Recovery: McCarthy is known for being patient. He’s not going to run a horse unless they are 110% ready to fire.
Breaking Down the 2025 Campaign
To understand why the journalism horse next race is such a big deal, you have to look at what he did last year. Most horses today don't run 11 times in a season. Journalism did.
He started the year winning the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. Then came the Triple Crown. He was the only three-year-old to run in all three legs in 2025. Think about that. Most trainers skip the Preakness or the Belmont to save their horses, but this colt just kept showing up.
He lost the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths to Sovereignty. Then he turned around and gutted out a win in the Preakness. In the Belmont, he was second again. The rivalry between Journalism and Sovereignty was the best thing to happen to the sport in years. Rumor has it Sovereignty is also staying in training for 2026, so we might get a rematch this summer.
Career Stats for Journalism
- Record: 11 starts: 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third.
- Earnings: $4,348,880.
- Major Wins: Preakness Stakes (G1), Haskell Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe (G2), Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
- Sire/Dam: Curlin / Mopotism (by Uncle Mo).
What the Owners Are Saying
Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has been pretty vocal about the decision to keep racing. A lot of people thought Journalism would go straight to Ashford Stud (Coolmore) to start breeding mares this month.
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"We are thrilled to announce that Journalism will be returning to race next season," Wellman said in an update. They want to showcase him on "American soil" as a four-year-old. It’s a bit of a gamble, honestly. If he loses his form, his value drops. But if he has a Horse of the Year type of season? He becomes a legend.
The ownership group is a bit of a "who's who" in racing. You’ve got the regular Eclipse partners, but also Robert LaPenta and the Coolmore trio (Smith, Magnier, and Tabor). When you have that many heavy hitters involved, the decisions are usually made with the long-term legacy in mind.
What to Watch For in the Coming Months
If you’re a fan tracking the journalism horse next race, don’t expect much news until late February or March. That’s when he’ll likely start popping up on the work tabs at Santa Anita.
Keep an eye on the "Daily Racing Form" or "Equibase" workouts. You want to see him starting with easy 3-furlong breezes and gradually working up to 5 furlongs in under a minute. If McCarthy brings him back in a "prep" race before the Met Mile, it would likely be something like the San Carlos or the Oaklawn Handicap.
Actionable Tips for Racing Fans
- Set an Alert: Put a Google Alert on "Journalism horse workouts." This is the only way to know when he’s back in the barn.
- Watch the Competition: Keep tabs on Sovereignty and Fierceness. These are the horses Journalism has to beat to be the king of the division in 2026.
- Check the Venue: Remember that the Met Mile will be at Saratoga this year, not Belmont Park. The track plays differently—usually favoring speed more than the deep sand at the old Belmont.
The wait for the journalism horse next race might be longer than we wanted, but it's for the right reasons. Seeing a top-tier horse actually stay on the track as a four-year-old is a gift to the fans. We’ve seen too many stars retired at three. If Journalism comes back with the same grit he showed in the Preakness, the 2026 season is going to be something special.