The New York Racing Association’s Under 20’s Challenge, for trainers who have no more than 20 horses on their rosters at a given time, returns with the opening of Aqueduct Racetrack‘s winter meet Jan. 1.
The challenge, which runs through the conclusion of the spring meet, offers two divisions: Division A for trainers with 11-20 stalls and Division B for trainers with 1-10 stalls. The top-six trainers in Division A will share a prize pool of $60,000, with the winner receiving $16,000. The top-five trainers in Division B will share a prize pool of $50,000, with the winner also receiving $16,000. Stall allotments for the 2024 Aqueduct winter/spring meets will be used to determine eligible trainers.
Trainers earn points based on their horses’ performances in overnight races at Aqueduct. Stakes races do not count for the purpose of this contest. Points will be tallied and records verified May 30.
To retain eligibility in Division A, no more than 20 horses can be on a trainer’s roster at any given time, although a trainer’s stable may grow above 20 horses through claiming.
To retain eligibility in Division B, no more than 10 horses can be on a trainer’s roster at any given time, although a trainer’s stable may grow above 10 horses through claiming.
Trainers in either division may replace a claimed horse that was on their roster with another claimed horse. After a horse is claimed, it will be added to the trainer’s roster only at the trainer’s request.
A horse that ends up on the stewards’ list for poor performance will not earn any trainer points for that race. Horses that are running for 50% or less of the claiming price from their most recent start will only be eligible to earn 50% of the typical points for that race.
In addition, horses can only earn contest points for two races within a given 30-day time period. A horse may enter in additional races during that time frame but will not earn contest points for those additional races.
The challenges point structure is as follows:
Dirt Races—All non-stakes races
1st Place (6 points); 2nd Place (5 points); 3rd Place (4 points); 4th Place (3 points); and 5th Place (2 points)
Turf Races—All non-stakes races
1st Place (5 points); 2nd Place (4 points); 3rd Place (3 points); 4th Place (2 points); and 5th Place (1 points)
Trainer Bonuses will be paid out as follows:
Division A (11-20 stalls)—Prize Pool: $60,000
1st Place ($16,000); 2nd Place ($12,000); 3rd Place ($10,000); 4th Place ($9,000); 5th Place ($7,000); and 6th Place ($6,000).
Division B (1-10 stalls)—Prize Pool: $50,000
1st Place ($16,000); 2nd Place ($12,000); 3rd Place ($10,000); 4th Place ($7,000); and 5th Place ($5,000).
