The New York Racing Association announced Nov. 4 the stakes schedule for the 2021-22 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.
With 46 stakes races on offer worth nearly $6 million in purses, the 56-day winter meet begins Thursday, Dec. 9 and runs through Sunday, March 27. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday through the end of February with a holiday break set for Dec. 20-29 and the addition of a special Presidents' Day card on Monday, Feb. 21. March will then feature a Friday-Sunday schedule of live racing through the conclusion of the winter meet on March 27.
As previously announced, and in accordance with New York City requirements, fans seeking to enter Aqueduct Racetrack must demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Originally closed to the public during the height of the COVID-19 emergency in March of 2020, Aqueduct then became the site of a New York State mass vaccination center in January 2021. It will reopen to the public on Nov. 11, opening day of the 18-day 2021 Aqueduct fall meet, which runs through Dec. 5.
The Aqueduct winter meet stakes action commences Dec. 11 with the $100,000 Garland of Roses for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up headed six furlongs on the main track. The 2021 NYRA stakes program draws to a close with the $100,000 Bay Ridge on Dec. 30 for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and the $100,000 Alex M. Robb on Dec. 31 for New York-breds 3-years-old and up.
January racing will open on New Year's Day with the one-mile $150,000 Jerome, the first of three Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at the Big A winter meet. The Jerome will offer 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.
The nine-furlong $100,000 Busanda for sophomore fillies on Jan. 23 will provide 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top four finishers. The winter meet graded stakes calendar will open with the $150,000 Toboggan (G3) a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on Jan. 29.
New York's road to the Kentucky Derby continues at the Big A winter meet with the nine-furlong $250,000 Withers (G3) on Feb. 5, offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers.
The Feb. 21 Presidents' Day card will be highlighted by the $100,000 Maddie May for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies going one mile. There will be no live racing Feb. 17 to accommodate the Presidents' Day card.
A total of 12 racing cards are set for March, featuring eight stakes' days, including two graded events. The centerpiece of the March racing calendar is the one-mile $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 5, which provides 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers. The Gotham Day card includes the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs; the $250,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers; and the $125,000 Stymie for 4-year-olds and up.
The final weekend of the winter meet will feature a 10-stakes card on New York Claiming Championship Day, March 26 and the $100,000 East View on March 27.
Admission to Aqueduct, which will be open to the public on live race days only, is free of charge. The gates will open daily at 11 a.m. First post during the Aqueduct fall and winter meets is 12:30 p.m.
Fans visiting Aqueduct should use the Clubhouse Entrance to provide the required proof of vaccination. Preferred parking will be $10 daily in the Clubhouse lot and general parking will be in the Conduit lot. All parking fees must be paid via credit card.
| Aqueduct 2021-2022 Winter Meet Stakes Schedule | ||||||
| Date | Purse | Race | Grade | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| Dec. 11 | $100,000 | Garland of Roses | 3&UP, F&M | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Dec. 18 | $500,000 | NYSSS Fifth Avenue Division | 2YO F, NY-Bred | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Dec. 18 | $500,000 | NYSSS Great White Way Division | 2YO, NY-Bred | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Dec. 19 | $125,000 | Queen's County | 3&UP | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Dec. 30 | $100,000 | Bay Ridge | 3&UP, F&M, NY-Bred | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Dec. 31 | $100,000 | Alex M. Robb | 3&UP, NY-Bred | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 1 | $100,000 | Gravesend | 3&UP | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 1 | $150,000 | Jerome | 3YO | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 2 | $100,000 | La Verdad | 4&UP, F&M, NY-Bred | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 8 | $100,000 | Say Florida Sandy | 4&UP, NY-Bred | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 9 | $100,000 | Rego Park | 3YO, NY-Bred | 6 1/2 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 15 | $100,000 | Franklin Square | 3YO F, NY-Bred | 6 1/2 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 15 | $100,000 | Interborough | 4&UP, F&M | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 16 | $100,000 | Ladies | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 22 | $100,000 | Jazil | 4&UP | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 23 | $100,000 | Busanda | 3YO F | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 29 | $150,000 | Toboggan | G3 | 4&UP | 7 F | Dirt |
| Jan. 30 | $100,000 | Jimmy Winkfield | 3YO | 7F | Dirt | |
| Feb. 5 | $250,000 | Withers | G3 | 3YO | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Feb. 6 | $100,000 | Ruthless | 3YO F | 7F | Dirt | |
| Feb. 12 | $100,000 | Gander | 3YO, NY-Bred | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Feb. 13 | $100,000 | Broadway | 4&Up, F&M, NY-Bred | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Feb. 19 | $100,000 | Hollie Hughes | 4&UP, NY-Bred | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Feb. 21 | $100,000 | Maddie May | 3YO F | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Feb. 26 | $125,000 | Stymie | 4&UP | 1 M | Dirt | |
| March 5 | $250,000 | Busher Invitational | 3YO F | 1 M | Dirt | |
| March 5 | $300,000 | Gotham | G3 | 3YO | 1 M | Dirt |
| March 5 | $125,000 | Heavenly Prize Invitational | 4&UP, F&M | 1 M | Dirt | |
| March 5 | $200,000 | Tom Fool Handicap | G3 | 4&UP | 6F | Dirt |
| March 6 | $100,000 | Biogio's Rose | 4&UP, F&M, NY-Bred | 1 M | Dirt | |
| March 12 | $100,000 | Correction | 4&UP, F&M | 6 F | Dirt | |
| March 13 | $100,000 | Damon Runyon | 3YO, NY-Bred | 7 F | Dirt | |
| March 19 | $100,000 | Cicada | 3YO F | 7F F | Dirt | |
| March 20 | $100,000 | Haynesfield | 4&UP, NY-Bred | 1 M | Dirt | |
| March 27 | $100,000 | East View | 3YO F, NY-Bred | 7 F | Dirt | |
