The New York Racing Association on December 16 announced the schedule of bets for the 2023 spring meet at Aqueduct race trackincluding 14 shares worth nearly $2.8 million in total wallets.
The spring race runs 19 days after the winter race underway at the Aqueduct and will open on March 30 and continue through April 30. The live race will be conducted Thursday through Sunday. except April 9, when live racing and pari-mutuel betting is banned by New York State from following Easter Sunday.
WATCH: 2023 Aqueduct Spring Meet Stock Schedule
The $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3), a seven-socket contest for older mares and mares, will begin graded betting action during the spring encounter on the day. April 7.
An April 8 Wood Memorial Day blockbuster card will feature four graded bets, topped by the 98th installment of the $750,000 Memorial Wood prize presented by Resorts World Casino (G2). The 1/8 mile test for 3-year-olds will qualify the Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale for the top five finishers.
Wood Memorial Day will bring the curtain down on 1st place on the NYRA circuit in 2023 with the $300,000 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets (G1), a seven-stage sprint for older horses . Additionally, the April 8 pass will include a pair of 3rd place races—$250,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 mile for sophomores offering Road to the Kentucky Oaks scores at 100 -40-30-20-10 ratio; and $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3), a seven-stage sprint for sophomores.
Spring Meeting opening weekend features $125,000 Excelsior Bets at 1 1/8 mile for older horses on April 1, followed by $100,000 Top Bets for horses mare and larger mares travel 1 1/8 miles on April 2.
Weekend closes offering $100,000 worth of Silver Bets to 3-year-olds who walk a mile on the pitch. The Spring Encounter will end on April 30 with a race taking place this year from Belmont Park$100,000 Successful Bet has been confirmed in six longhairs for old New York-bred horses.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
