It's a new era in New York! An abundance of exciting new bonuses, increases, and incentives are launching fall 2026. There's never been a better time to participate in New York racing.
On this page:
BIG APPLE BONUS
Ship, start, earn!
The Belmont Big Apple Bonus is a new initiative created to reward owners and trainers for participating in the fall meet at the new Belmont Park.
Owners and trainers currently based at NYRA are fully eligible for these bonuses, which complement the record overnight purses to be offered during the fall meet.
Scheduled to launch with the opening of the fall meet on September 18, the Big Apple Bonus will provide up to $8,500 in awards per horse shipping or relocating to Belmont Park from other racing jurisdictions! Full conditions below.
Tier A
$3,000 bonus, paid upon horse's first Belmont Park start ($2,000 to owner, $1,000 to trainer)
Tier A Racetracks (<400 miles from Belmont Park) include, but are not limited to:
- Monmouth Park (Oceanport, NJ) – 75 miles
- Parx Racing (Bensalem, PA) – 110 miles
- Delaware Park (Wilmington, DE) – 150 miles
- Fair Hill Training Center (Elkton, MD) – 160 miles
- Penn National (Grantville, PA) – 170 miles
- Laurel Park (Laurel, MD) – 210 miles
- Finger Lakes (Farmington, NY) – 270 miles
- Colonial Downs (Richmond, VA) – 375 miles
Tier B
$6,000 bonus, paid upon horse's first Belmont Park start ($4,000 to owner, $2,000 to trainer)
Tier B Racetracks (>400 miles from Belmont Park) include, but are not limited to:
- Woodbine Racetrack (Toronto, ON) – 500 miles
- Turfway Park (Florence, KY) – 675 miles
- Keeneland (Lexington, KY) – 725 miles
- Churchill Downs (Louisville, KY) – 760 miles
- Ellis Park (Henderson, KY) – 895 miles
- Tampa Bay Downs (Tampa, FL) – 1,150 miles
- Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs, AR) – 1,250 miles
- Gulfstream Park (Hallandale Beach, FL) – 1,280 miles
- Fair Grounds (New Orleans, LA) – 1,300 miles
- Del Mar (Del Mar, CA) – 2,800 miles
- Santa Anita (Arcadia, CA) – 2,800 miles
Must qualify via Tier A or Tier B bonus | $2,500 bonus ($2,500 to owner)
Any horse that qualifies under Tier A or Tier B is eligible for the Third Consecutive Start Bonus. Upon a horse’s third consecutive start at NYRA following a Tier A or Tier B bonus, a Third Consecutive Start Bonus shall be paid to the owner that earned the original bonus. Any horse that runs at a non-NYRA track after qualifying for a Tier A or Tier B bonus will forfeit their eligibility for the Third Consecutive Start Bonus.
- The Big Apple Bonus is effective from September 18, 2026 through April 30, 2027.
- The horse’s previous start must have been at a track other than Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park or Saratoga Race Course.
- Horses stabled at NYRA in 2026 that travel out of state are not eligible to regain their eligibility.
- First-time starters are ineligible.
- Horses making their first start at NYRA for less than $20,000 claiming are eligible for 50% of the respective bonus; however, horses that qualify via this bonus will receive the third consecutive start bonus in full, if they qualify.
- The Tier A bonus is limited to the first 250 horses, and the Tier B bonus is limited to the first 350 horses. In the event the total horse cap is reached, all horses entered and listed on an overnight and that run will be paid out. The third start bonus will continue to be paid after the cap.
- Horses running at NYRA tracks in Graded Stakes are eligible for NYRA’s shipping incentive program but not eligible for this bonus.
- NYRA reserves all rights to make the final determination on a horse’s eligibility for this program and to extend this program in the event the cap is reached in either or both categories.
RECORD OVERNIGHT PURSES
Belmont Park 2026 fall purses to increase an average of 15%
| Race | 2026 Purse | 2025 Purse | % Increase |
| MSW | $100,000 | $85,000 | +17.6% |
| Allowance 1X | $105,000 | $88,000 | +19.3% |
| Allowance 2X | $108,000 | $90,000 | +20.0% |
| Str 1X | $75,000 | $65,000 | +15.4% |
| MSW (NY) | $100,000 | $80,000 | +25.0% |
|
Allowance 1X (NY) |
$105,000 | $81,000 | +29.6% |
| Allowance 2X (NY) | $108,000 | $82,000 | +31.7% |
EMPIRE TRILLIUM SERIES
An All-New Stakes Series at Belmont Park and Woodbine
A 14-race program restricted to horses foaled in New York or Canada worth $3.2 million in total purses!
The Belmont Park leg will feature eight stakes worth $1.8 million in purses; the Woodbine slate includes six stakes worth $1.4 million.
50% of each starting gate is reserved for each jurisdiction, unless either can't fill its allotted quota.
2026-2027 Schedule
Dates are tentative and subject to final approval.
| DATE | RACE | LOCATION | PURSE | AGE | DISTANCE | SURFACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 26 | Empire Trillium Colt Sprint | Belmont Park | $200,000 | 2YO | 6F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, December 26 | Empire Trillium Colt Route | Belmont Park | $200,000 | 2YO | 1 1/16 Mi | Tapeta |
| Saturday, December 26 | Empire Trillium Filly Sprint | Belmont Park | $200,000 | F2YO | 6F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, December 26 | Empire Trillium Filly Route | Belmont Park | $200,000 | F2YO | 1 1/16 Mi | Tapeta |
| Saturday, January 23 | Long Island Derby | Belmont Park | $300,000 | 3YO | 1 1/8 Mi | Tapeta |
| Saturday, January 23 | Long Island Oaks | Belmont Park | $300,000 | F3YO | 1 1/8 Mi | Tapeta |
| Saturday, February 27 | Empire Trillium Colt Sprint | Belmont Park | $200,000 | 3YO | 6F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, February 27 | Empire Trillium Filly Sprint | Belmont Park | $200,000 | F3YO | 6F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, April 24 | Older Boys Sprint | Woodbine | $200,000 | 3&UP | 6F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, April 24 | Older Girls Sprint | Woodbine | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | 6F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, June 26 | Older Boys Mile | Woodbine | $300,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mi | Turf |
| Saturday, June 26 | Older Girls Mile | Woodbine | $300,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 Mi | Turf |
| Saturday, July 31 | Older Girls 7F | Woodbine | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | 7F | Tapeta |
| Saturday, July 31 | Older Boys 7F | Woodbine | $200,000 | 3&UP | 7F | Tapeta |
Enrollments for New York-breds can be made by contacting the NYRA Racing Office at (718) 859-2235, or by contacting Racing Secretary Rob MacLennan at [email protected].
Enrollments for Canadian foals can be made by contacting the Woodbine Racing Office at (416) 523-5588, or by contacting Julie Bell at [email protected].
Enrollment Payments
| 3YO & up one-time enrollment fee (Due November 20, 2026) | $350 |
| 2YO enrollment fee (Due June 19, 2026) | $600 |
| Supplement payment for one race | $2,500 |
| Supplement payment for entire series | $7,500 |
Nomination, Entry, Start Payments
| Nomination fee for enrolled horses | Free |
| Entry & start fee | 1% of advertised purse total |
