NYRA Extends Winter Meet at Aqueduct Racetrack

Last week, the New York Racing Association announced a portion of its 2024 racing calendar, which revealed an extended winter meet at its Aqueduct Racetrack. According to NYRA, the meet is scheduled to start on January 1, 2024, and run through March 30, 2024. Meanwhile, the association awaits further confirmation to release its full calendar for next year.

The meet is on track to begin on January 1, 2024, and run through March 30, 2024, with the New Year’s Day program will kick off with a five-day racing week and later transitioning to four days a week from January 4, through January 21, 2024. Then, from January 26, through March 3, racing will be done three days a week, from Fridays through Sundays.

Winter Meet Dates Confirmed

For the upcoming winter meet, NYRA will provide 26 stakes events with purses totalling over US$3.5 million. The usual trio of races for three-year-olds, the Jerome on January 6, 2024, the Grade 3 US$250,000 Withers on February 3, 2024, and the Grade 3, US$300,000 Gotham on March 2, 2024, all offer qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2024.

Those three stakes will then lead to the Grade 2, US$750,000 Wood Memorial, which is another Derby qualifying points event run during the spring meet. An official date for the race has not been revealed yet. Also, six winter stakes got purse bumps, with the Interborough on January 2, 2024, for fillies and mares, having its purse increased by US$50,000 to US$15,000.

Additionally, five stakes received US$25,000 purse boosts including the Grade 3, US$175,000 Toboggan on February 3, 2024, the US$150,000 Heavenly Prize on February 10, 2024, the Grade 3, US$175,000 Tom Fool on March 2, 2024, the US$150,000 Stymie on March 2, 2024, and the US$150,000, The Excelsior on March 30, 2024, which was previously run in the spring.

Belmont Stakes Moves to Saratoga

In the meantime, New York State and NYRA recently confirmed that the 2024 Belmont Stakes will be moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course. The stakes will be contested at the track on June 8, 2024, as part of a four-day racing week from June 6 to June 9. Meanwhile, Saratoga’s regular meet will be again run from July through September 2024.

The relocation of the popular Belmont Stakes comes in connection with a US$455-million renovation plan at Belmont Park. The project was approved by the state earlier this year. But Gov. Kathy Hochul says there is a condition for her signing the loan. She wants NYRA to meet certain criteria for union jobs with the renovation and after its completion.

NYRA’s proposed renovation plan would include modern amenities and hospitality offerings. For its busiest weekend of the calendar – the Belmont Stakes which is held in June, will have a larger infield connected via underground pedestrian tunnels which will allow more attendees. The new grandstand and clubhouses will be next to the UBS Arena home of the New York Islanders.

Source: Grening, David “NYRA adds two days to Aqueduct winter meet” DRF, December 8, 2023