NYRA announces 195 days of racing during 2024, all at Aqueduct, Saratoga

The New York Racing Association has scheduled 195 days of racing in 2024, a 3.4 percent decrease from the 202 days scheduled in 2023, according to the schedule released Thursday by the company.

As has been expected, all racing downstate in 2024 will be held at Aqueduct as the massive renovation project at Belmont Park continues. Ultimately, it is the expectation that all downstate racing will be conducted at Belmont Park starting in 2026 or 2027.

Of course, it has already been announced that the Belmont Stakes will be conducted at Saratoga during a four-day week typically held at Belmont Park. The Belmont Stakes, scheduled for June 8, will be the third day of a four-day race week (June 6-9) that is expected to include 23 stakes races.

That change in schedule also comes with one fewer week of racing during the Belmont at Aqueduct spring meet that will be held from May 2 through July 7. Following the May 29 Memorial Day card at Aqueduct, there will be nine dark days prior to the June 6 card that will be held at Saratoga. Following the June 9 card, racing will return to Aqueduct on June 14.

The regular 40-day Saratoga meet will be conducted from July 11 through Sept. 2. The 31-day Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet will run from Sept. 13 through Nov. 3 before the regular Aqueduct fall meet, which will consist of 26 cards and runs from Nov. 7 through Dec. 29.

NYRA has previously announced that the Aqueduct winter meet will consist of 47 cards from Jan. 1 through March 30. Racing will be conducted four days a week Jan. 4-21 and then three days a week from Jan. 26-March 3. There is one exception as racing will be held on Presidents’ Day (Feb. 19) as past of a four-day week.

The regular four-day race week (Thursdays-Sundays) will resume March 8.

The 16-day Aqueduct spring meet will be held April 4-28.

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