Competing for your sport's highest achievement shouldn't be a question, but for horse racing's Triple Crown, it's not that simple.

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty won't run in the Preakness Stakes. That means there won't be a Triple Crown winner for a seventh consecutive year.

After the announcement Tuesday that the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty have opted to skip the Preakness Stakes on May 17, spoiling any slim chance of a Triple Crown sweep this year, hard questions are being asked about U.S. racing’s centerpiece series.