NYRA Photo
Pat McKenna
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2026 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will include 20 stakes races worth more than $3.1 million in total purses.
The 2026 Aqueduct winter meet will open Wednesday, January 1 and continue through Sunday, March 30. Except for January 8, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday until February 15 and Friday-Sunday from February 20 through the end of March. The winter meet will offer 45 live race days in total.
Stakes action at the Big A winter meet kicks off on Saturday, January 3, with a pair of $150,000 stakes at a one-turn mile, including the Busanda for sophomore fillies, previously contested at nine-furlongs, that will offer 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers. Also featured is the Jerome, which will be the first of three Kentucky Derby prep races at the meet, offering 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers.
The $135,000 Ladies at nine-furlongs for older fillies and mares headlines the Saturday, January 17 program, while the following week will offer the $135,000 Interborough on January 24 as older fillies and mares sprint seven furlongs.
A trio of stakes feature on Saturday, January 31 led by the Listed $200,000 Withers at nine-furlongs offering 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and the Listed $150,000 Toboggan, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. Also offered on the lucrative card is the $135,000 Ruthless, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.
New York-breds are the focus of the Saturday, February 7 program with a pair of seven-furlong sprints worth $135,000 in the Damon Runyon for sophomores and the East View for 3-year-old fillies. The Saturday, February 14, card will see older state-breds sprint seven furlongs in the $135,000 Say Florida Sandy.
The centerpiece of the winter meet stakes calendar is the Saturday, February 28 card offering four stakes, led by the one-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, providing 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Gotham Day card includes the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs, the Listed $150,000 Stymie at one mile for older horses, and the Listed one-mile $200,000 Busher for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.
The March calendar will feature six stakes, beginning with the $135,000 Correction, a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares on March 1. Saturday, March 7 showcases New York-breds traveling a one-turn mile with the $135,000 Gander for sophomores and the $135,000 Maddie May for 3-year-old fillies.
Saturday, March 14 is topped by the $135,000 Jimmy Winkfield, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.
Sunday, March 29 will offer both the $135,000 Haynesfield, a one-turn mile for older state-bred horses; and the Listed nine-furlong $175,000 Top Flight for older fillies and mares.
The full 2026 calendar of live race dates at NYRA is subject to New York State Gaming Commission approval, which remains pending.
For the complete winter meet stakes schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule/.
