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NYRA Releases Jockey Protocols For Aqueduct’s Fall Meet

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Saturday COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 18-day Aqueduct fall meet, which will open on Friday, Nov. 6 and run through Sunday, Dec. 6. The Aqueduct fall meet will be highlighted by 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 million in purse money.

Opening weekend of the Aqueduct fall meet, which coincides with the Breeders' Cup set for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course, begins with the $100,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies and $80,000 Atlantic Beach for juvenile turf sprinters on Nov. 6. Following opening weekend, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Thanksgiving Week, when live racing will not be offered on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.

Members of the Aqueduct jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Aqueduct fall meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a 5-day window in order to return to ride at Aqueduct. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days.

Jockeys not currently riding at NYRA who wish to join the Aqueduct jockey colony for the beginning of the Aqueduct fall meet must contact NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza or Aqueduct Racing Secretary Keith Doleshel by Wednesday, Nov. 11. Newcomers to the NYRA jockey colony will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within the 5-day window preceding that jockey's first mount at Aqueduct.

In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Aqueduct will be closed to out-of-town jockeys not considered members of the regular NYRA jockey colony.

All testing must be performed in New York state.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area at Belmont Park. In order to work a horse in the morning, the jockey must meet the horse in the paddock and may then proceed to the main track for as long as the main track remains open.

Jockey agents arriving from outside of New York must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area at Belmont Park. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

All valets must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken any time after Nov. 2 in order to access the jockey quarters on opening day, Nov. 6. Valets who choose to only saddle horses in the paddock and not enter the jockey quarters will be allowed in the Belmont Park barn area.

America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

For the complete stakes schedule for the Aqueduct fall meet, please visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule

The post NYRA Releases Jockey Protocols For Aqueduct’s Fall Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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NYRA Releases Aqueduct Winter/Spring Schedules With Extended Purse Bumps

The New York Racing Association announced Thursday the 2020-21 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack. In addition, NYRA announced that the purse increases now in effect across a number of categories at the Belmont Park fall meet will be extended to the fall, winter and spring meets at Aqueduct.

Purses for open claiming and maiden claiming races at NYRA are the highest in the country. The open $25,000 claiming category will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a purse of $43,000.

“NYRA is pleased to be able extend these significant purse increases to our upcoming Aqueduct meets as part of NYRA’s commitment to year-round racing,” said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Aqueduct plays a vital role within the overall ecosystem of New York racing, and we look forward to our return to the Big A.”

The 2020-21 Aqueduct meet will feature 42 stakes races worth $4.57 million in purses. It begins Thursday, Dec. 10 and runs through Sunday, Mar. 28. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday until the end of February with a holiday break set for Dec. 24-27 and the addition of special Monday cards Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Feb. 15 for Presidents’ Day. Live racing in March will be offered Friday through Sunday through the conclusion of the winter meet Mar. 28.

The 11-day 2021 Big A spring meet will run Thursday, Apr. 1 through Sunday, Apr. 18 with live racing returning to a Thursday to Sunday schedule. The 2020 spring meet will include 13 stakes worth $2.7 million in purses, highlighted by the 96th running of the $750,000 GII Wood Memorial S. Saturday, Apr. 3. The race will offer 100-40-20-10 GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. The day will also feature the return to Aqueduct of the GI Carter H. after the race was run at Belmont due to the pandemic this year, and the GIII Gazelle S., which will offer 100-40-20-10 GI Kentucky Oaks qualifying points for 3-year-old fillies.

To view the entire stakes schedule for the winter and spring meets, click here.

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NYRA Releases 2020-2021 Aqueduct Winter, Spring Meet Stakes Schedules

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the race dates and stakes schedule for the 2020-21 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In addition, NYRA announces that the purse increases now in effect across a number of categories at the Belmont Park fall meet will be extended to the fall, winter and spring meets at Aqueduct.

Purses for open claiming and maiden claiming races at NYRA are the highest in the country, providing opportunities for horsemen at all levels. The open $25,000 claiming category will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a purse of $43,000.

“NYRA is pleased to be able extend these significant purse increases to our upcoming Aqueduct meets as part of NYRA's commitment to year-round racing,” said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Aqueduct plays a vital role within the overall ecosystem of New York racing, and we look forward to our return to the Big A.”

New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) President Joe Appelbaum expressed his support for the upcoming Aqueduct schedule and attendant purse increases.

“Over the last several months, the NYTHA Board and management team has been working with NYRA to ensure year-round racing has a solid foundation, both in terms of racing opportunities and the purses that fuel our thoroughbred economy”, said Appelbaum. “This plan is a big step in that direction. Aqueduct is going to be a great spot for horsemen to race.”

With 42 stakes races on offer worth $4.57 million in purses, the 56-day winter meet begins Thursday, Dec. 10, and runs through Sunday, March 28. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday until the end of February with a holiday break set for Dec. 24 – 27 and the addition of special Monday cards on Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Feb. 15 for Presidents' Day.

Live racing in March will be offered Friday through Sunday through the conclusion of the winter meet on March 28.

The December winter meet calendar will feature a trio of $100,000 stakes races at nine furlongs on the main track, including the Alex M. Robb on December 12 for New York-breds 3-years-old and up; the Bay Ridge on December 13 for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; and the Queens County on December 19 for 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 prep races at the Big A winter meet. The Jerome will offer 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday card, marking the birthday of the late civil rights leader, is slated for Monday, Jan. 18 and features the $100,000 Interborough for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up. There will be no live racing on Thursday, Jan. 14 to accommodate the special holiday card.

The nine-furlong $100,000 Busanda for sophomore fillies on Jan. 24 will provide 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top four finishers. The winter meet graded stakes calendar will open with the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on Jan. 30.

New York's road to the Kentucky Derby continues at the Big A winter meet with the nine-furlong Grade 3, $250,000 Withers on Feb. 6, offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers. The Monday, Feb. 15 President's Day Card will be highlighted by the $100,000 Hollie Hughes, a six-furlong sprint for New York-breds 4-years-old and up. There will be no live racing on Thursday, Feb. 11 to accommodate the Presidents' Day card.

A total of 12 racing cards are set for March, featuring eight stakes, including two graded events. The centerpiece of the March racing calendar is the one-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 6, which provides 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers. The Gotham day card includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap 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.

On its final weekend, the 56-day winter meet will showcase a 10-stakes card on New York Claiming Championship Day, Saturday, March 27 and the $100,000 East View on Sunday, March 28.

Throughout the 2020-21 Aqueduct winter meet, the trainer of any horse who finishes fourth through last in a race will receive a $300 credit towards an insurance escrow account in the trainer's name with the horseman's bookkeeper. The horse must be an official starter and finish the race. This money can only be used to make New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund [NYJICF] payments. These funds cannot be withdrawn by trainers. Monies not used by the end of 2021 will refund to the purse account.

The 11-day 2021 Big A spring meet will run Thursday, April 1 through Sunday, April 18 with live racing returning to a Thursday to Sunday schedule. The 2020 spring meet will include 13 stakes worth $2.7 million in purses highlighted by the 96th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on Saturday, April 3.

Opening Weekend of the spring meet will offer six graded races in total beginning on Friday, April 2 with the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares.

Wood Memorial day on Saturday, April 3 features the first Grade 1 of 2021 on the NYRA circuit in the $300,000 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. The stakes-laden day is headlined by the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Bolstering the lucrative Wood Memorial day card are a trio of Grade 3 races, including the $250,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers; the $200,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores; and the $150,000 Excelsior at nine furlongs for older horses.

Closing weekend of the Big A spring meet offers the $200,000 NYSSS Times Square at 6 ½-furlongs for sophomore state-breds and the $100,000 Woodhaven for sophomore turf routers on April 18. The 11-day spring meet will conclude on Sunday, April 19 with the $200,000 NYSSS Park Avenue at 6 ½-furlongs for sophomore filly New York-breds and the $100,000 Memories of Silver for sophomore filly turf routers.

As previously announced, the 18-day Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet, offering 29 stakes, including 11 graded events worth $3.41 million in purses, will begin off on Friday, November 6 and run through Sunday, Dec. 6.

The Aqueduct fall meet is highlighted by the 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday, Dec. 5.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

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Peterson, Krone, To Aqueduct Fall Meet

Ferrin Peterson, the second-leading rider at Monmouth this summer, plans to begin riding at the Aqueduct Fall Meeting when it opens November 6, she said Monday, adding that she intended to ride through the winter at the track.

Jockeys joining the colony need to test negative for COVID in New York twice the week leading up to the meet, and to continue to follow strict protocols thereafter.

Peterson, 28, has made a splash this summer on the Jersey Shore, for both on and off-track reasons. She rode 42 winners at the summer meet, including two four-win days, and finished just off the pace of perennial leading jockey Paco Lopez. Her agent is former jockey Julie Krone, stepping into a new career after her Hall of Fame worthy riding career. Additionally, Peterson graduated from U.C. Davis with a degree in veterinary medicine in 2019, making her arguably the best-educated jockey in history.

Peterson had originally considered going to Tampa for the winter, she said, but a strong showing after she lost her bug midway through the Monmouth meet led her to reconsider.

“We want to be where the top trainers and riders are,” said Peterson. “We had a really good meet at Monmouth and we feel the next step is to go to New York. Julie had success there, and good contacts for people, and there is a lot of respect for Julie Krone there.”

“I always wanted to get to New York and this opportunity presented itself, so it seems like the opportune time.”

Krone, who rode in New York from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, said that the decision was a little bit of reading the tea leaves.

“When opportunities show themselves and you think you’re going another direction, but every single thing points you a different way, you have to listen to that,” said Krone. “We came off an amazing, strong Monmouth meet riding for a lot of the Monmouth-based trainers, having two four-win days and winning a stakes race,” she said. “Ferrin is so strong and so focused and she has improved so much.”

Krone said she had caught the eye of no less a judge than Ramon Dominguez.

“I was talking to Ramon last night,” Krone said. “He watches races all the time, and he was saying he has been watching her and that she has improved so much over the summer and she looks so good on a horse. When you see her ride, you say, `wow, she is going to make it and is going to be along the lines of a Julie Krone or Rosie Napravnik’. Ramon said, `she is ready to go to Aqueduct for the fall and winter after a summer like that.'”

“Having ridden at Aqueduct, I think the inner track will suit her,” Krone concluded. “She’s good at saving ground, and at having a horse left for the stretch run.”

Said Peterson, “I’m really looking forward to being around top trainers and high-quality horses. We want to compete with the best.”

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