Under 20's Claiming Challenge 2021-2022 Aqueduct Winter Meet

The Under 20’s Claiming Challenge is open to all trainers stabled at NYRA facilities with a total number of horses not to exceed 20 in their care nationwide at the start of the contest. The contest will run during the Aqueduct Winter and Spring meets. The contestants will earn points in all winners’ claiming races.

Trainers who wish to participate must sign up by November 27, 2021 with all contest applications in no later than 3:30 pm.

1. A trainer shall be eligible if the initial total number of horses in their care is no more than 20 nationwide and the trainer is stabled at NYRA facilities. Any trainer allotted 21 stalls or more will be automatically ineligible for the contest.
2. Stall allotments for the 2021-2022 Aqueduct Fall/Winter Meet will be used to determine eligible trainers.
3. Eligible trainers must then fill out a contest application and submit it to the racing office by 3:30 pm Saturday, November 27th, 2021. The application will contain the roster of horses that the trainer wishes to make eligible for the contest.
4. On Thursday, December 2nd, the racing office will post all eligible trainers in the contest. There can be no more than 20 horses on the roster at any given time. Only roster horses can earn the trainer points. Thus, a trainer’s stable may grow above 20 horses, but not all will be eligible for the contest. 
5. Trainers can grow their roster list by claim only. After a horse is claimed, it will be added to the trainer’s roster at the trainer’s request only. This will not be done automatically. The roster once again cannot grow above 20 for contest purposes.
6. A trainer may replace a claimed horse who was on their roster with another claimed horse that was claimed in their name. The trainer must request the horse to be added to his/her roster; this is not done automatically.
7. In order to earn contest points, the request to add a horse to the roster must be done before the next race of said horse. Points will not be awarded retroactively.
8. A trainer may replace an injured horse on the roster up until Tuesday, February 15th, 2022 via the claim box in his/her name.
9. The contest starts Thursday, December 9th, 2021 and ends Sunday, April 24th, 2022. Points will be tallied and records will be checked by May 23rd, 2022 after which awards will be granted.
10. Points will only be earned in claiming races for winners. Horses in for a tag in an allowance optional claiming or starter optional claiming race will qualify for contest points. Points are not earned in maiden, allowance, starter allowance, or stakes races.
11. A horse that ends up on the stewards’ list for poor performance will not earn the trainer points for that race.
12. A dead heat will result in points paid out according to the same method as purse structure. For example, a dead heat for 2nd place would result in points for 2nd and 3rd place being added together, then divided equally between the two horses that dead heated.
13. Horses that are running for 50% or less of the claiming price from their most recent start will only be eligible to earn 50% of the typical points for that race.
14. Horses can only earn contest points for 2 races within a given 30 day time period. A horse may enter in additional races during that timeframe, but will not earn contest points for those additional races.
15. Trainers may be declared ineligible if they do not abide by the rules of the contest.

Standings will be updated on the overnight. 

The Senior Vice President of Racing Operations and Board of Stewards retain the right to review any actions pertaining to this contest that are detrimental to racing.

Dirt Races- All claiming races for winners, including horses in for an optional tag

• 1st Place - 6 points
• 2nd Place - 5 points
• 3rd Place - 4 points
• 4th Place - 3 points
• 5th Place - 2 points

Turf Races - All turf claiming races for winners, including horses in for an optional tag

• 1st Place - 5 points
• 2nd Place - 4 points
• 3rd Place - 3 points
• 4th Place - 2 points
• 5th Place - 1 points

The top eight trainers in the contest will share in a prize pool of $80,000.

• 1st Place - $16,000
• 2nd Place - $14,000
• 3rd Place - $12,000
• 4th Place - $11,000
• 5th Place - $9,000
• 6th Place - $7,000
• 7th Place - $6,000
• 8th Place - $5,000

• November 27, 2021 - All contest applications due no later than 3:30 p.m.
• December 2, 2021 - List of eligible contest trainers posted
• December 9, 2021 - Contest begins; Aqueduct winter meet
• February 15, 2022 - No additional horses may be added to earn contest points (unless replacing a claimed or injured horse)
• April 24, 2022 - Contest ends; Closing day, Aqueduct spring meet
• May 23, 2022 - Awards paid out