Pugh: NYRA's new Turf Triple Series looks like a winning idea

The New York Racing Association is known for coming up with some out-the-box, unconventional and even controversial ideas. However, those have proven to work in the past — for instance, stacking other major races on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

While that decision was met with skepticism, then largely accepted, a new concept announced Wednesday to introduce Triple Crown equivalents for 3-year-old turf horses seemed a universal winner with fans and horsemen.

Perhaps we’ll see the Turf Triple Series be just as much of a success when put into action this summer, too.

Dubbed the Turf Trinity (open to all) and Tiara (for fillies), the races will mirror distances of the traditional Triple Crown, going from 1 1/4 miles to 1 3/16 and finishing with a 1 1/2-mile endurance test. The existing Belmont Derby (G1) and Belmont Oaks (G1) invitationals in July kick off the series, with the next two races newly created stakes at Saratoga and Belmont.

RELATED: Full Turf Triple Series race schedule

While not an exact replica of the Triple Crown, which is run as three races over the course of five weeks, this should still prove to be a difficult task, and one that should bring more attention to a turf division that has been on the rise.

It’s no secret that America values dirt pedigrees and dirt races over turf, at least at the highest levels, given the concentration on the classics. To institute this $5.25 million turf Triple Crown series could better align U.S. breeding and racing with the rest of the world, giving more value to grass horses.

This will also be great opportunity to draw some of the world’s best horses here long before the Breeders’ Cup. Aidan O’Brien and others have already made shipping to the U.S. commonplace. Which other big-name operations could join him?

The only potential drawback I see to this new concept is the change it is forcing upon one of America’s most well-known turf stakes for 3-year-olds, Arlington Park’s Secretariat (G1). According to Bob Ehalt, reporting for BloodHorse, the race now only two weeks removed from the second leg of these new series will cut back from 1 1/4 miles to 1 mile, though its purse will increase to a record $500,000.

Perhaps there’s a silver lining for the Secretariat. It, too, could serve as an international showcase for a different division.

I, as with essentially all others I’ve seen commenting on the new turf Triple Crown series, welcome the idea. It’s time we start giving proper attention to grass runners — the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) was a nice addition to the calendar as well — and running at longer distances should have breeders aiming for stamina and longevity.