The New York Racing Association announced Jan. 26 the cancellation of live racing Jan. 27-30 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area.
NYRA, in consultation with the Jockeys' Guild, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, will request formal approval from the New York State Gaming Commission to conduct live racing Feb. 4 with additional make-up days to be determined at a later date.
Aqueduct Racetrack will be closed to the public Jan. 27 but will re-open for simulcast operations Jan. 28-29. Online wagering is available via NYRABets.com.
The $135,000 Ladies Stakes, originally scheduled for Jan. 17 and subsequently moved to Jan. 30, will be brought back Jan. 31. Entries for this Saturday's card will be taken Jan. 27.
As previously announced, the $135,000 Interborough Stakes will be brought back Feb. 6, with entries to be taken Jan. 31.
NYRA will bring back races carded for Jan. 28-29 as extras for Feb. 1 and beyond with entries commencing Jan. 28.
The races currently offered in the condition book for Jan. 30 will be used for the proposed Wednesday, Feb. 4 program, with entries to be taken Jan. 29.
The Aqueduct winter meet, which spans Jan. 1-March 30, is highlighted by the one-mile, $300,000 Gotham (G3), providing Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a scale of 50-25-15-10-5. The Gotham Day card, slated for Feb. 28, includes the $175,000 Tom Fool Stakes (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going 6 furlongs, the listed $150,000 Stymie Stakes at 1 mile for older horses, and the listed 1-mile, $200,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, offering Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points on a scale of 50-25-15-10-5.
