NYRA Increases Stakes Purses for 49-Day Winter Meet

The New York Racing Association Dec. 4 revealed the stakes schedule for the 49-day winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will feature 20 stakes worth $3.1 million in total purses.

The 2025 winter meet opens Jan. 1, and continues through March 30. With the exception of opening week, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday from the week of Jan. 9 through the week of Feb. 27. Aqueduct will host a Presidents' Day card Feb. 17. The winter meet will offer three-day race weeks Friday through Sunday throughout the month of March.

NYRA has increased the purses of 10 winter meet stakes races by $25,000. As a result, the Busanda, Ruthless, Correction, and Jimmy Winkfield stakes, and restricted New York-bred Damon Runyon, East View, Say Florida Sandy, Broadway, Gander, Maddie May stakes will be offered with a purse of $125,000.

The Aqueduct winter meet stakes action kicks off Jan. 4 with the $150,000 Jerome Stakes, a one-turn mile for sophomores. As the first of three Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at the meet, the Jerome will offer 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Jan. 11 will feature the $150,000 Ladies at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares with the following Saturday offering the 1 1/8-mile $125,000 Busanda for sophomore fillies Jan. 18. The Busanda will provide 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Graded action at the winter meet kicks off Feb. 1 with the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles offering 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points as part of a stacked card that also includes the $175,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, and the $125,000 Ruthless at seven furlongs for sophomore fillies.

NYRA will highlight New York-breds Feb. 8 with a pair of $125,000 events at seven furlongs in the Damon Runyon for sophomores and the East View for sophomore fillies. Both the Damon Runyon and East View were previously contested at six furlongs.

The centerpiece of the March stakes calendar is the one-mile $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) March 1, providing 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Gotham Day card includes the $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs, the $150,000 Stymie Stakes at one mile for older horses, and the one-mile $200,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

New York-breds will again take center stage March 8 with a pair of $125,000 events at a one-turn mile—the Gander for sophomores and the Maddie May for sophomore fillies.

The Aqueduct winter meet stakes calendar concludes with the $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield, a six-furlong sprint for sophomores March 15.

A trio of races previously offered at the 2024 winter meet—the Haynesfield, Excelsior, and Biogio's Rose stakes—will be run during the 2025 Aqueduct spring meet. The Franklin Square, Rego Park, and Cicada stakes, which were previously held during the winter meet, will not be run in 2025.

Click here for the complete winter meet stakes schedule.