NYRA/Coglianese Photo

NYRA announces race dates and stakes schedule for 2020 Aqueduct fall meet

by Pat McKenna

Cigar Mile Day on December 5 includes four graded stakes worth $650K

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced race dates for the 18-day Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet, offering 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 million in purse money, that will kick off on Friday, November 6 and run through Sunday, December 6.

Opening weekend of the Big A fall meet, which coincides with the Breeders' Cup set for November 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 November 6.

The opening weekend stakes action continues on November 7 with the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap and the Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua for 2-year-olds on November 8.

The Saturday, November 14 card will feature the $100,000 Artie Schiller for turf milers 3-years-old and up and the $100,000 Notebook, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles. The following day offers the $100,000 Winter Memories at 1 1/16-miles on turf for sophomore fillies and the $100,000 Key Cents for New York-bred juvenile filly sprinters.

The Grade 3, $100,000 Red Smith, a 1 3/8-mile turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up continues the graded stakes action at the fall meet on Saturday, November 21. Two divisions of the New York Stallion Stakes Series will take centerstage on Sunday, November 22, featuring the $100,000 Thunder Rumble, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, and it’s filly counterpart, the $100,000 Staten Island, also at seven-eighths on the main track.

Thanksgiving Week at the Big A will feature three days of exciting racing action beginning Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29 with 10 stakes worth $1 million.

A trio of stakes on November 27 includes the Grade 3, $100,000 Comely sophomore fillies at nine furlongs; the $100,000 Gio Ponti at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for sophomores; and the $100,000 Forever Together also at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

The Saturday, November 28th card boasts four stakes keyed by a pair of Grade 3 tests including the $100,000 Long Island at 11 furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up along with the $100,000 Discovery for at nine furlongs for 3-year-olds. The card is bolstered by the $100,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up and the $100,000 Central Park for juveniles at 1 1/16-miles on the turf.

Sunday, November 29 is slated for three stakes, led by the Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and upward. The card will also feature the $100,000 Autumn Days at six furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and the $100,000 Tepin at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for juvenile fillies.

Closing Weekend of the Big A fall meet features seven stakes worth $1.4 million beginning on Saturday, December 5 with the 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up, headlining a lucrative card which includes a pair of prestigious Grade 2, $150,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile.

The New York Stallion Stakes Series will offer a pair of rich races for 2-year-olds on Sunday, December 6 with the Great White Way for juvenile males and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, with purses of $250,000 each. Sunday’s Closing Day card will also include the $100,000 Garland of Roses at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

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, November 26.

New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers and owners in the near future.

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

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the 18-day fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

About the New York Racing Association

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 statewide economic impact.

Accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, NYRA is a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, a group of the nation's leading racing organizations working collaboratively to advance safety reforms across the sport.

Over the course of 217 days of live racing in 2019, NYRA generated more than $2.1 billion in all-sources wagering handle with paid attendance exceeding 1.5 million.

2020 Aqueduct Fall Stakes Schedule