NYRA: Aqueduct, Belmont Park & Saratoga 2009 Schedule

Posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008

Meet-by-meet 2009 schedule for Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga in New York.

Aqueduct Winter/Spring Meet Schedule

The Aqueduct Handicap has been re-named the Evening Attire, in honor of the 2002 Aqueduct Handicap winner who retired in 2008 at the age of 10, will be run on Saturday, January 17 on the inner dirt track. The $65,000-added race is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles.

Aqueduct’s Triple Crown test, the 85th running of the Wood Memorial, will highlight a main track card that not only features the Carter Handicap, but the $200,000 Excelsior (G3) at 9 furlongs and the $200,000 Bay Shore (G3) for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs on Saturday, April 4.

Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet Schedule

The 141st running of the Belmont Stakes heads a card that will include the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles on the turf, the $400,000 Just A Game (G1) for fillies and mares at a mile on the turf, the $300,000 Acorn (G1) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, the $250,000 True North Handicap (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs and the $250,000 Woody Stephens (G2) for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs.

The first Grade 1 race of the Spring/Summer Meet will have a new sponsor. The $600,000 Shadwell Metropolitan Handicap (G1) will be held on Monday, May 25. The “Met Mile” is New York’s traditional Memorial Day feature race.

SBG Global RacebookThe $400,000 Suburban Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, July 4, previously sponsored by Shadwell, has been changed to Grade 2 status. It will be part of a stellar Independence Day card that will include the $300,000 Prioress (G1) for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs and $200,000 Dwyer (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

The Cupecoy’s Joy Division and the Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Series, both carrying $75,000 purses, will be switched from one mile on the main track to 7 furlongs on the turf on Sunday, May 31.

Saratoga Race Course Meet Schedule

There will be at least one Grade 1 race every Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, and the biggest day — with 5 graded stakes offerings — will be Shadwell Travers Stakes Day, Saturday, August 29. That day will also feature the $300,000 NetJets King’s Bishop for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs and the $300,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs, both Grade 1 races. The card will also include the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, as well as the $100,000-added Victory (G3) Ride for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs.

The $300,000 Forego (G1) at 7 furlongs will now be a weight-for-age event on Saturday, September 5, and shares the card with the $500,000 Woodward (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 9 furlongs.

The $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) at 1 1/2 miles on the turf returns to its traditional spot in the middle of the Saratoga season and will be run on Saturday, August 15.

Receiving an upgrade to Grade 3 status is the $100,000 With Anticipation for 2-year-olds at a mile on the turf on Friday, September 4.

A new race, the $80,000-added Riskaverse for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf, will be run on Thursday, September 3.

Belmont Park Fall Championship Meet Schedule

The Belmont Fall Championship Meet’s biggest day will be Saturday, October. 3, which will feature five Grade 1 stakes: the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational, the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a half on the grass, the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational for fillies and mares at a mile and a quarter on the turf, the $600,000 Beldame for fillies and mares at 9 furlongs and the $400,000 Vosburgh for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs.

After a one year absence, the $150,000 Bowling Green (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 11 furlongs on the turf will be moved from Belmont’s spring schedule to the fall on Opening Day, Friday, September 11, to serve as a prep race for the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Also in September is a new race, the $100,000 John Hettinger for New York-bred fillies and mares at 9 furlongs on the turf on Sunday, September 20. It is named in honor of the late NYRA Trustee, horse owner and advocate.

Steeplechase fans will have their day with $150,000 Lonesome Glory (G1) at 2 1/2 miles on Sunday, September 20.

New York Showcase Day will be held on Saturday, October 24.

Aqueduct Fall Meet Schedule

The $300,000 Gazelle (G1) moves from Belmont Park to bolster HolidayFest and make Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Day even bigger. The two Grade 1 races are supported by the Remsen and Demoiselle ? two Grade 2 events for juveniles and juvenile fillies, respectively.

The $65,000-added Gravesend, which will be run at 6 furlongs on Saturday, December 26, is no longer a Grade 3 race.

Horse racing news edited from www.nyra.com.

"NYRA: Aqueduct, Belmont Park & Saratoga 2009 Schedule" was posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at 8:50 am and is filed under Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Belmont Stakes, Horse Racing Industry, Race Tracks News, Saratoga, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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