2023 Aqueduct Winter Meet Stakes Schedule Announced

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 7 the stakes schedule for the 2023 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will feature 25 stakes races worth $3.2 million in purses.

The 44-day Big A winter meet begins New Year's Day, Jan. 1, and runs through March 26, with live racing conducted Thursday-Sunday until Feb. 12. From Feb. 17 through the end of the winter meet, live racing will be held Friday-Sunday, with the addition of a special Presidents' Day card on Feb. 20. 

The Aqueduct winter meet stakes action kicks off on New Year's Day with the $150,000 Ladies Stakes for fillies and mares, 4-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The following weekend, Jan. 7, the one-mile $150,000 Jerome Stakes will be the first of three Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep races at the Big A winter meet. The Jerome will offer 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers. 

The nine-furlong $100,000 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Jan. 14 will provide 20-8-6-4-2 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers. The winter meet graded stakes calendar kicks off with the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses Jan. 28.

New York's Road to the Kentucky Derby continues at the Big A winter meet with the 1 1/8-mile $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 4, offering 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

The Feb. 20 Presidents' Day card will be highlighted by the $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes for New York-breds, 4-years-old and up, going one mile. There will be no live racing Feb. 16 to accommodate the Presidents' Day card.

The centerpiece of the March racing calendar is the one-mile $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) March 4, which provides 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers. The Gotham Day card includes the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs and the one-mile $200,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top four finishers.

The final weekend of the winter meet will feature the $100,000 East View for New York-bred sophomore fillies going six furlongs March 24 followed by New York Claiming Championship Day March 25, with six starter events offering a combined $380,000 in purse money. 

For the complete winter meet stakes schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule/.