Aqueduct Spring Meet Features 13 Stakes Worth $2.8M

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 5 the stakes schedule for the 2025 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will feature 13 stakes worth $2.8 million in total purses.

The 15-day spring meet will open April 3 and continue through April 27 with live racing conducted Thursday-Sunday.

NYRA has increased the purse of both the Haynesfield Stakes and Biogio's Rose Stakes by $25,000. As a result, both races will offer a purse of $125,000.

The spring meet stakes action kicks off with the April 5 Wood Memorial Day card featuring five stakes topped by the 100th running of the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2). The 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds will offer Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

Wood Memorial Day will also feature the $300,000 Carter Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs for older horses, as well the $200,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles for sophomore fillies offering 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers. Completing the day's stakes action are the $175,000 Distaff Handicap (G3), a seven-furlong contest for older fillies and mares; and the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes for older horses which will now be contested at 1 1/4-miles—one furlong more than last year.

A lucrative weekend extends to April 6, with a pair of one-turn mile, state-bred stakes in the Haynesfield for older horses and the Biogio's Rose for older fillies and mares.

Stakes action continues April 12 with the $150,000 Top Flight Stakes for older fillies and mares traveling 1 1/8 miles. April 13 will be co-headlined by a pair of $200,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series events at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track: the Times Square Stakes for eligible state-sired sophomores and the Park Avenue Stakes for eligible state-sired sophomore fillies.

The $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores, will be run April 19.

Closing weekend of the spring meet will offer the return of turf stakes with the $125,000 Woodhaven for sophomores April 26, and the $150,000 Memories of Silver for 3-year-old fillies April 27.

The complete spring meet stakes schedule is available online.