The New York Racing Association schedule for the 2023 winter meet at Aqueduct will feature 25 stakes races worth $3.2 million in purses.
The 44-day Big A winter meet begins Sunday, Jan. 1, and runs through Sunday, March 26, with live racing conducted Thursday-Sunday until Feb. 12. From Friday, Feb. 17, through the end of the winter meet, live racing will be held Friday-Sunday, with the addition of a Presidents’ Day card on Monday, Feb. 20.
The Aqueduct winter meet stakes action kicks off on New Year’s Day with the $150,000 Ladies for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The following weekend, on Saturday, Jan. 7, the one-mile $150,000 Jerome will be the first of three Kentucky Derby prep races at the Big A winter meet. The Jerome will offer 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers.
The nine-furlong $100,000 Busanda for 3-year-old fillies on Jan. 14 will provide 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top five finishers. The winter meet graded-stakes calendar kicks off with the $150,000 Toboggan (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on Jan. 28.
New York's Road to the Kentucky Derby continues at the Big A winter meet with the 1 1/8-mile $250,000 Withers (G3) on Feb. 4, offering 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.
| Aqueduct winter | 2023 stakes | Purse | Age | Dist. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Jan. 1 | Ladies | $150,000 | f&m 4 & up | 1 1/8 mi |
| Saturday, Jan. 7 | Jerome | $150,000 | 3yo | 1 mile |
| Sunday, Jan. 8 | Say Florida Sandy (NYB) | $100,000 | 4 & up | 7 f |
| Saturday, Jan. 14 | Busanda | $100,000 | 3yo f | 1 1/8 mi |
| Saturday, Jan. 21 | Interborough | $100,000 | f&m 4 & up | 7 f |
| Sunday, Jan. 22 | Franklin Square (NYB) | $100,000 | 3yo f | 6 1/2 f |
| Saturday, Jan. 28 | Toboggan (G3) | $150,000 | 4 & up | 7 f |
| Sunday, Jan. 29 | Rego Park (NYB) | $100,000 | 3yo | 6 1/2 f |
| Saturday, Feb. 4 | Withers (G3) | $250,000 | 3yo | 1 1/8 mi |
| Saturday, Feb. 4 | Ruthless | $100,000 | 3yo f | 7 f |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | Jimmy Winkfield | $100,000 | 3yo | 6 f |
| Sunday, Feb. 12 | Broadway (NYB) | $100,000 | f&m 4 & up | 7 f |
| Saturday, Feb. 18 | Heavenly Prize | $125,000 | f&m 4 & up | 1 mile |
| Sunday, Feb. 19 | Maddie May (NYB) | $100,000 | 3yo f | 1 mile |
| Monday, Feb. 20 | Haynesfield (NYB) | $100,000 | 4 & up | 1 mile |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | Stymie | $125,000 | 4 & up | 1 mile |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | Gander (NYB) | $100,000 | 3yo | 1 mile |
| Saturday, March 4 | Gotham (G3) | $300,000 | 3yo | 1 mile |
| Saturday, March 4 | Busher | $200,000 | 3yo f | 1 mile |
| Saturday, March 4 | Tom Fool Hcp. (G3) | $150,000 | 4 & up | 6 f |
| Saturday, March 11 | Correction | $100,000 | f&m 4 & up | 6 f |
| Sunday, March 12 | Biogio's Rose (NYB) | $100,000 | f&m 4 & up | 1 mile |
| Saturday, March 18 | Cicada | $100,000 | 3yo f | 6 f |
| Sunday, March 19 | Damon Runyon (NYB) | $100,000 | 3yo | 6 f |
| Friday, March 24 | East View (NYB) | $100,000 | 3yo f | 6 f |
The Feb. 20 Presidents’ Day card will be highlighted by the $100,000 Haynesfield for New York-breds, 4-year-olds and up going one mile. There will be no live racing on Thursday, Feb. 16, to accommodate the Presidents’ Day card.
The centerpiece of the March racing calendar is the one-mile, $300,000 Gotham (G3) on March 4, which provides 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. The Gotham Day card includes the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs and the one-mile $200,000 Busher for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top five finishers.
The final weekend of the winter meet will feature the $100,000 East View for New York-bred sophomore fillies going six furlongs on Friday, March 24, followed by New York claiming championship day on Saturday, March 25, with six starter events offering a combined $380,000 in purse money.
