NYRA Announces Aqueduct Spring Stakes Schedule

The New York Racing Association Dec. 16 announced the stakes schedule for the 2023 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, featuring 14 stakes worth nearly $2.8 million in total purses. 

The 19-day spring meet follows the ongoing winter meet at Aqueduct and will open March 30 and continue through April 30. Live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday except for April 9, when live racing and pari-mutuel wagering is prohibited by New York State in observance of Easter Sunday. 

VIEW: 2023 Aqueduct Spring Meet Stakes Schedule

The $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3), a seven-furlong contest for older fillies and mares, will kick off the spring meet graded stakes action April 7. 

A blockbuster Wood Memorial Day card April 8 will feature four graded stakes, topped by the 98th running of the $750,000 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2). The 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds will offer qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to the top-five finishers. 

Wood Memorial Day will raise the curtain on grade 1 racing on the NYRA circuit in 2023 with the $300,000 Carter Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. In addition, the April 8 card will include a pair of grade 3 races—the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles for sophomore fillies offering Road to the Kentucky Oaks points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale; and the $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores.

Opening weekend of the spring meet features the $125,000 Excelsior Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for older horses April 1, followed by the $100,000 Top Flight Stakes for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles April 2.

Closing weekend offers the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes for 3-year-old fillies headed one mile on the turf. The spring meet will conclude April 30 with a race that moves over this year from Belmont Park, the $100,000 Affirmed Success Stakes at six furlongs for New York-bred older horses.