NYRA Announces Aqueduct Fall Meet Dates

The New York Racing Association announced race dates Aug. 20 for the 18-day Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet, offering 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 million in purse money that will kick off Nov. 6 and run through Dec. 6.

Opening weekend, which coincides with the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, begins with the $100,000 Tempted Stakes for juvenile fillies and $80,000 Atlantic Beach Stakes for juvenile turf sprinters, both Nov. 6.

The $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) will be run Nov. 7, and the $100,000 Nashua Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds is Nov. 8.

The Nov. 14 card will feature the $100,000 Artie Schiller Stakes for turf milers 3 and up and the $100,000 Notebook Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles. The following day offers the $100,000 Winter Memories Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf for sophomore fillies and the $100,000 Key Cents Stakes for New York-bred juvenile filly sprinters.

The $100,000 Red Smith Stakes (G3T), a 1 3/8-mile turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up, will be run Nov. 21. Two divisions of the New York Stallion Stakes Series will take center stage Nov. 22, featuring the $100,000 Thunder Rumble Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, and its filly counterpart, the $100,000 Staten Island Stakes, also at seven furlongs on the main track.

Thanksgiving week will feature three days of exciting racing action Nov. 27-29 with 10 stakes worth $1 million.

The Nov. 27 card includes the $100,000 Comely Stakes (G3) for sophomore fillies at nine furlongs, the $100,000 Gio Ponti Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for sophomores, and the $100,000 Forever Together Stakes also at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for fillies and mares 3 and up.

The Nov. 28 card boasts four stakes, including the $100,000 Long Island Stakes (G3T) at 11 furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3 and up, along with the $100,000 Discovery Stakes (G3) at nine furlongs for 3-year-olds. Also on the card are the $100,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up and the $100,000 Central Park Stakes for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Three stakes are slated for Nov. 29, led by the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3), a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and upward. The card will also feature the $100,000 Autumn Days at six furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3 and up and the $100,000 Tepin Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for juvenile fillies.

Closing weekend features seven stakes worth $1.4 million. The 32nd renewal of the $250,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) for 3-year-olds and up headlines a lucrative Dec. 5 card that includes a pair of $150,000, nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen Stakes (G2) and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle Stakes (G2), as well as the $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares at a mile.

The New York Stallion Stakes Series will offer a pair of rich races for 2-year-olds Dec. 6 with the Great White Way for juvenile males and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, with purses of $250,000 each. Sunday's closing day card will also include the $100,000 Garland of Roses Stakes at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3 and up.

Following opening weekend, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Thanksgiving week, when live racing will not be offered Nov. 26.

New York state requires all racetracks to operate without spectators to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers, and owners in the near future.

"America's Day at the Races" will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on Fox Sports and MSG Networks.