NYRA Releases 2020-21 Aqueduct Stakes Schedule

The New York Racing Association has announced the race dates and stakes schedule for the 2020-21 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

In addition, NYRA announced that the purse increases now in effect across a number of categories at the Belmont Park fall meet will be extended to the fall, winter, and spring meets at Aqueduct.

Purses for open claiming and maiden claiming races at NYRA are the highest in the country, providing opportunities for horsemen at all levels. The open $25,000 claiming category will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a purse of $43,000.

"NYRA is pleased to be able extend these significant purse increases to our upcoming Aqueduct meets as part of NYRA's commitment to year-round racing," said Martin Panza, NYRA's senior vice president of racing operations. "Aqueduct plays a vital role within the overall ecosystem of New York racing, and we look forward to our return to the 'Big A.'"

New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association president Joe Appelbaum expressed his support for the upcoming Aqueduct schedule and attendant purse increases. 

"Over the last several months, the NYTHA Board and management team has been working with NYRA to ensure year-round racing has a solid foundation, both in terms of racing opportunities and the purses that fuel our Thoroughbred economy," Appelbaum said. "This plan is a big step in that direction. Aqueduct is going to be a great spot for horsemen to race."

With 42 stakes races on offer worth $4.57 million in purses, the 56-day winter meet begins Dec. 10 and runs through March 28. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday until the end of February with a holiday break set for Dec. 24-27 and the addition of special Monday cards on Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Feb. 15 for Presidents Day.

Live racing in March will be offered Friday through Sunday through the conclusion of the winter meet.

The December winter meet calendar will feature a trio of $100,000 stakes races at nine furlongs on the main track: the Dec. 12 Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds 3 years old and up, the Dec. 13 Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, and the Dec. 19 Queens County Stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

January racing will open on New Year's Day with the one-mile $150,000 Jerome Stakes, the first of three Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races at the 'Big A' winter meet. The Jerome will offer qualifying points toward a spot in the starting gate for the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day card, marking the birthday of the late civil rights leader, is slated for Jan. 18 and features the $100,000 Interborough Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years old and up. There will be no live racing Jan. 14 to accommodate the special holiday card. 

The nine-furlong $100,000 Busanda Stakes for sophomore fillies Jan. 24 will provide qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers. The winter meet graded stakes calendar will open Jan. 30 with the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses.

New York's road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the nine-furlong $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 6, offering qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The Presidents Day card will be highlighted by the $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for New York-breds 4 and up. There will be no live racing Feb. 11 to accommodate the Presidents Day card. 

A total of 12 racing cards are set for March, featuring eight stakes, including two graded events. The centerpiece of the March racing calendar is the one-mile $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) March 6, which provides qualifying Derby points on a 50-20-10-5 scale. The Gotham Day card includes the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs; the $250,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points, and the $125,000 Stymie Stakes for 4-year-olds and up.

On its final weekend, the 56-day winter meet will showcase a 10-stakes card on New York Claiming Championship Day March 27 and the $100,000 East View Stakes March 28.

Throughout the Aqueduct winter meet, the trainer of any horse who finishes fourth through last in a race will receive a $300 credit toward an insurance escrow account in the trainer's name with the horseman's bookkeeper. The horse must be an official starter and finish the race. This money can only be used to make New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund payments. These funds cannot be withdrawn by trainers. Monies not used by the end of 2021 will refund to the purse account.

The 11-day 2021 "Big A" spring meet will run April 1-18 with live racing returning to a Thursday to Sunday schedule. The spring meet will include 13 stakes worth $2.7 million in purses, highlighted by the 96th running of the $750,000 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) April 3.

Opening weekend of the spring meet will offer six graded races in total beginning April 2 with the $150,000 Distaff (G3) at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares.

Wood Memorial Day April 3 features the first grade 1 of 2021 on the NYRA circuit in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. The stakes-laden day is headlined by the Wood Memorial, which offers Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale. 

Bolstering the lucrative Wood Memorial Day card are a trio of races, including the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3) at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points; the $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores; and the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (G3) at nine furlongs for older horses.

Closing weekend of the "Big A" spring meet offers the $200,000 New York Stallion Series Times Square Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs for sophomore state-breds and the $100,000 Woodhaven Stakes for sophomore turf routers April 18. The 11-day spring meet will conclude April 19 with the $200,000 New York Stallion Series Park Avenue Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs for sophomore filly New York-breds and the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes for sophomore filly turf routers.

As previously announced, the 18-day Aqueduct fall meet, offering 29 stakes, including 11 graded events worth $3.41 million in purses, will begin Nov. 6 and run through Dec. 6. 

The Aqueduct fall meet is highlighted Dec. 5 by the 32nd renewal of the $250,000 Cigar Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up.