Aqueduct opens fall meet with fresh turf courses, robust purse structure

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With a strong purse structure, two turf courses that haven’t been used in 11 months, and a slightly shortened racing schedule, signs are pointing to a potentially strong Aqueduct fall meet, which gets under way Friday.

As was the case at both Belmont meets and at Saratoga, fans will not be permitted at Aqueduct due to COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the state. That will be particularly frustrating to fans considering the adjacent casino is open at 25 percent capacity, albeit under strict protocols.

“We miss our fans dearly and look forward to the day when racetracks throughout New York state can welcome their return,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said. “These kinds of decisions are rightly left to elected officials and public-health experts, and NYRA continues to work closely with the New York State Gaming Commission and relevant health departments to ensure we are prepared for any changes to the current regulations.”

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Aqueduct’s fall meet will consist of 18 days through Dec. 6 with racing conducted mostly four days a week. There will be no racing Thanksgiving Day, a change from past years.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final two weeks of the Aqueduct winter meet and the entire Aqueduct spring season were scrapped. That means the last turf race run at Aqueduct was Dec. 8. With five to six weeks remaining in the turf season, expect both courses to get rigorous use if the weather is good.

“We haven’t used them in 11 months, they’re in tremendous shape,” said Martin Panza, the New York Racing Association’s senior vice president of racing operations. “As long as the weather works with us and we don’t get a ton of rain, we’re going to use them.”

The weather is expected to cooperate opening weekend, and there are six turf races carded for Friday’s opening-day card. Friday’s forecast calls for dry conditions and highs in the mid-to-upper 60s.

Purses for overnight races have been restored to pre-pandemic levels, which means open-company maiden races are worth $80,000. Other examples of purse levels include open $25,000 claiming races worth $50,000, while maiden $40,000 claiming races will be worth $43,000.

“The purses are strong,” Panza said. “Hopefully, people will stay or there’ll at least be second thoughts should that horse stay or should that horse go.”

NYRA had previously announced cuts to the stakes purses, and those cuts remain in effect. For example, the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, typically worth $750,000, is worth $250,000. The Cigar Mile will be run Dec. 5 along with the Grade 2 Remsen and Grade 2 Demoiselle, both worth $150,000, as well as the Grade 3 Go for Wand, one of 24 stakes that carry a $100,000 purse.

For the meet, there will be 29 stakes worth $3.45 million, including a pair of New York Stallion Stakes worth $250,000 each. Those races were worth $500,000 last year.

“As long as that casino stays open and COVID stays in check, we’ll be able to bring a lot of those stakes to normal levels next year,” Panza said.

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Trainers that are new to Aqueduct include Wayne Potts and Karl Broberg, while Kelly Breen is expected to have a larger presence this fall and winter. Breen has four horses entered on Friday’s opening-day card.

Jockeys who want to ride at Aqueduct must have declared their intent to be a New York rider by opening day. Newcomers to the colony include Ferrin Peterson, who will be represented by Julie Krone; Luis Rodriguez-Castro, who will have former trainer Gary Contessa as his agent; and Sebastian Saez, brother of Luis Saez.

Those New York jockeys who are riding at Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup on Friday and Saturday would have to pass two COVID-19 tests in a five-day period upon their return before being allowed to ride at Aqueduct.

Post times will vary at the meet, primarily based on how many races are carded on a given day. Eight-race cards will begin at 12:50 p.m., nine race cards start at 12:20 p.m., and 10 race cards would begin at 11:50 a.m.

With the first two Aqueduct programs coinciding with the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, first post Friday is 11:15 a.m. and first post Saturday is 10:30 a.m.