QUEENS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced race dates for the 18-day Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet, offering 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 million in purse money, that will kick off on Friday, November 6 and run through Sunday, December 6.
Opening weekend of the Aqueduct fall meet, which coincides with the Breeders’ Cup set for November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course, begins with the $100,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies and $80,000 Atlantic Beach for juvenile turf sprinters on November 6.
The opening weekend stakes action continues on November 7 with the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap and the Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua for 2-year-olds on November 8.
The Saturday, November 14 card will feature the $100,000 Artie Schiller for turf milers 3-years-old and up and the $100,000 Notebook, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles. The following day offers the $100,000 Winter Memories at 1 1/16-miles on turf for sophomore fillies and the $100,000 Key Cents for New York-bred juvenile filly sprinters.
The Grade 3, $100,000 Red Smith, a 1 3/8-mile turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up continues the graded stakes action at the fall meet on Saturday, November 21. Two divisions of the New York Stallion Stakes Series will take center stage on Sunday, November 22, featuring the $100,000 Thunder Rumble, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, and it’s filly counterpart, the $100,000 Staten Island, also at seven-eighths on the main track.
Thanksgiving Week at Aqueduct will feature three days of exciting racing action beginning Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29 with 10 stakes worth $1 million.
A trio of stakes on November 27 includes the Grade 3, $100,000 Comely sophomore fillies at nine furlongs; the $100,000 Gio Ponti at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for sophomores; and the $100,000 Forever Together also at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
The Saturday, November 28th card boasts four stakes keyed by a pair of Grade 3 tests including the $100,000 Long Island at 11 furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up along with the $100,000 Discovery for at nine furlongs for 3-year-olds. The card is bolstered by the $100,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up and the $100,000 Central Park for juveniles at 1 1/16-miles on the turf.
Sunday, November 29 is slated for three stakes, led by the Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and upward. The card will also feature the $100,000 Autumn Days at six furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and the $100,000 Tepin at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for juvenile fillies.
Closing Weekend of the Aqueduct fall meet features seven stakes worth $1.4 million beginning on Saturday, December 5 with the 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up, headlining a lucrative card which includes a pair of prestigious Grade 2, $150,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile.
The New York Stallion Stakes Series will offer a pair of rich races for 2-year-olds on Sunday, December 6 with the Great White Way for juvenile males and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, with purses of $250,000 each. Sunday’s Closing Day card will also include the $100,000 Garland of Roses at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Following opening weekend, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Thanksgiving Week, when live racing will not be offered on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.
New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers and owners in the near future.
America’s Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.
Friday, November 6
$100,000 Tempted F2YO 1 Mile
$80,000 Atlantic Beach 2YO 6 F (Turf)
Saturday, November 7
$100,000 Turnback the Alarm (Hdcp) Grade III F&M 3&UP 1-1/8
$80,000 Stewart Manor F2YO 6 F (Turf)
Sunday, November 8
$100,000 Nashua Grade III 2YO 1 Mile
Saturday, November 14
$100,000 Artie Schiller 3&UP 1 Mile (Turf)
$100,000 Notebook (NYB) 2YO 6 Furlongs
Sunday, November 15
$100,000 Winter Memories F3YO 1-1/16 (Turf)
$100,000 Key Cents (NYB) F2YO 6 Furlongs
Saturday, November 21
$100,000 Red Smith Grade III 3&UP 1-3/8 (Turf)
Sunday, November 22
$100,000 New York Stallion Series – Thunder Rumble Division (Restricted) 3&UP 7 Furlongs
$100,000 New York Stallion Series – Staten Island Division (Restricted) F&M 3&UP 7 Furlongs
Friday, November 27
$100,000 Comely Grade III F3YO 1-1/8
$100,000 Gio Ponti 3YO 1-1/16 (Turf)
$100,000 Forever Together F&M 3&UP 1-1/16 (Turf)
Saturday, November 28
$100,000 Long Island Grade III F&M 3&UP 1-3/8 (Turf)
$100,000 Discovery Grade III 3YO 1-1/8
$100,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship 3&UP 6 F (Turf)
$100,000 Central Park 2YO 1-1/16 (Turf)
Sunday, November 29
$100,000 Fall Highweight (Hdcp.) Grade III 3&UP 6 Furlongs
$100,000 Autumn Days F&M 3&UP 6 F (Turf)
$100,000 Tepin F2YO 1-1/16 (Turf)
Saturday, December 5
$250,000 Cigar Mile (Hdcp) Grade I 3&UP 1 Mile
$150,000 Remsen Grade II 2YO 1-1/8
$150,000 Demoiselle Grade II F2YO 1-1/8
$100,000 Go For Wand (Hdcp) Grade III F&M 3&UP 1 Mile
Sunday, December 6
$250,000 New York Stallion Series – Great White Way Division 2YO 7 Furlongs
$250,000 New York Stallion Series – Fifth Avenue Division F2YO 7 Furlongs
$100,000 Garland of Roses F&M 3&UP 6 Furlongs
NYRA Press Release
Photo Credit: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
