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Increased purses announced for Aqueduct winter meet

by Keith McCalmont

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced purse increases across a number of categories for the upcoming winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Aqueduct winter meet is slated to begin Friday, December 7 and will feature significant purse increases in both New York-bred and open categories, including an $8,000 increase in open maiden allowance races, which will now be contested for $68,000 and a $5,000 increase in New York-bred maiden allowance events which will now go for $60,000.

 "These purse increases represent our continued commitment to maintaining quality racing in New York on a year-round basis. The purse money offered at Aqueduct is competitive with, if not stronger than, amounts offered for top-flight racing across the country," said Martin Panza, NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. "We value and appreciate our local horsemen that continue to support our live racing product into the New Year." 

First and second level New York-bred allowance categories will see 'non-winners of one' purses increased to $64,000 from $57,000, while 'non-winners of two / $40,000 claiming' purses are boosted to $67,000 from $59,000 a year ago.

Open allowance events will also be bolstered with optional claiming allowance races offered for $82,000 (+ $7,000); 'non-winners of three / $80,000 claiming' will run for $80,000 (+8,000); 'non-winners of two / $62,500 claiming' events will now be contested for $75,000 (+ $6,000); and 'non-winners of one' will go for $70,000 (+$3,000).

"NYTHA and NYRA have collaborated on a number of initiatives designed to reward the horsemen who do business in New York year-round, and this purse bump is another positive step in support of our owners and trainers," said Joe Appelbaum, President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA). "Adding this to an already strong purse structure, as well as the Starter Loyalty Program and $300 Per Start Credit Program, gives horsemen real 'dollars and cents' reasons to run in New York all year long."

Increases have also been applied to purses in certain claiming categories, with purses going up by increments of $1,000 in the 'non-winners of three / $25,000 claiming', 'non-winners of three / $14,000 claiming', and non-winners of two / $16,000 claiming' to purse values of $37,000, $28,000 and $28,000 respectively. 

An increase of $2,000 per category will be realized in the '$16,000 claiming', 'non-winners of two / $40,000 claiming' and non-winners of two / $25,000 claiming' conditions, boosting each respective purse to $32,000, $42,000 and $36,000.

Live racing continues at Aqueduct through the Thanksgiving weekend from Thursday through Sunday. Thursday's 9-race Thanksgiving Day card kicks off at 11:50 a.m. and features the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight, the $150,000 Winter Memories and the $100,000 Central Park. Gates open at 10 a.m.

About the New York Racing Association (NYRA)

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) holds the exclusive franchise to conduct thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State's thoroughbred industry, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact to New York State.

Over the course of 225 days of live racing in 2017, NYRA generated $2.2 billion in all-sources wagering handle with paid attendance exceeding 1.7 million. While staging just over 5 percent of all races run in the United States in 2017, wagering on NYRA's races again accounted for more than 20 percent of all monies bet on thoroughbred racing in the United States.