The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 17 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 Jan. 1 and continue through March 30. Except for Jan. 8, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday until Feb. 15 and Friday-Sunday from Feb. 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 Jan. 3, with a pair of $150,000 stakes at a one-turn mile, including the Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, previously contested at 1 1/8 miles, that will offer 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers. Also featured is the Jerome Stakes, which will be the first of three Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at the meet, offering 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers.
The $135,000 Ladies Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares headlines the Jan. 17 program, while the following week will offer the $135,000 Interborough Stakes Jan. 24 as older fillies and mares sprint 7 furlongs.
A trio of stakes on Jan. 31 are led by the $200,000 Withers Stakes at 1 1/8 miles offering 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes, a 7-furlong sprint for older horses. Also offered on the lucrative card is the $135,000 Ruthless Stakes, a 7-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.
New York-breds are the focus of the Feb. 7 program with a pair of 7-furlong sprints worth $135,000 in the Damon Runyon Stakes for sophomores and the East View Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Feb. 14, card will see older state-breds sprint 7 furlongs in the $135,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes.
The centerpiece of the winter meet stakes calendar is the Feb. 28 card offering four stakes, led by the 1-mile $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) providing 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Gotham Day card includes the $175,000 Tom Fool Stakes (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going 6 furlongs, the $150,000 Stymie Stakes at 1 mile for older horses, and the 1-mile $200,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.
The March calendar will feature six stakes, beginning March 1 with the $135,000 Correction Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. March 7 showcases New York-breds traveling a one-turn mile with the $135,000 Gander Stakes for sophomores and the $135,000 Maddie May Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
March 14 is topped by the $135,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.
March 29 will offer both the $135,000 Haynesfield Stakes, a one-turn mile for older state-bred horses; and the 1 1/8-mile $175,000 Top Flight Stakes 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/.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
