The New York Racing Association is gearing up for an exciting 49-day winter meet at Aqueduct. With a total of 20 stakes worth $3.1 million in purses, racing enthusiasts are in for a treat. The meet kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 1, and continues through Sunday, March 30. Live racing will be held from Thursday to Sunday, except for opening week. Aqueduct will host a special Presidents’ Day card on Monday, Feb. 17. Additionally, the winter meet will offer three-day race weeks from Friday through Sunday in March.

Enhanced Purses and Qualifying Points

NYRA has increased the purses of 10 winter-meet stakes races by $25,000. This means races like the Busanda, Ruthless, Damon Runyon, East View, Say Florida Sandy, Broadway, Correction, Gander, Maddie May, and Jimmy Winkfield will now offer a purse of $125,000. The action kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the $150,000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for sophomores, providing 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers. On Jan. 11, the Ladies race at nine furlongs is for older fillies and mares. The following Saturday, Jan. 18, sees the nine-furlong Busanda for sophomore fillies, offering 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

January Stakes Highlights

The listed Interborough headlines the Saturday, Jan. 25 card, with older fillies and mares sprinting seven furlongs. Graded action begins on Saturday, Feb. 1, with the Withers (G3) at nine furlongs, offering 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Alongside it, the Toboggan (G3) is a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, and the Ruthless is at seven furlongs for sophomore fillies.

February Stakes Highlights

NYRA highlights New York-breds on Saturday, Feb. 8, with the Damon Runyon for sophomores and the East View for sophomore fillies, both at seven furlongs. Previously contested at six furlongs, these races now offer significant qualifying points. On Saturday, Feb. 15, the Say Florida Sandy is for older state-breds at seven furlongs. The following day, Sunday, Feb. 23, brings the Broadway with older state-bred fillies and mares sprinting seven furlongs.

March Stakes Highlights

The centerpiece of the March stakes calendar is the one-mile Gotham (G3) on March 1, providing 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Gotham Day card includes the Tom Fool (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs, the listed Stymie at one mile for older horses, and the listed one-mile Busher for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. A lucrative weekend features the six-furlong Correction for older fillies and mares on Sunday, March 2. New York-breds take center stage again on Saturday, March 8, with the Gander for sophomores and the Maddie May for sophomore fillies at a one-turn mile. The Aqueduct winter meet stakes calendar concludes with the $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield on March 15, a six-furlong sprint for sophomores.

Changes for 2025

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