Aqueduct is set to launch the racing calendar on Thursday, January 1, with a sharp and purposeful eight-race program that promises immediate intensity. The afternoon is anchored by Race 3, a $79,000 Allowance Optional Claiming over 1 1/8 miles, where proven four-year-olds and upward will be asked a serious early-season question in a compact field of six. It is the kind of race that sets the tone for what the year might hold.
The action will get underway at 12:40 pm with Race 1, a Maiden event for three-year-olds sprinting 6 furlongs for $70,000. With six runners lining up, the opener promises immediacy, raw pace, and the first glimpse of developing talent stepping onto a bigger stage.
Momentum will build at 1:09 pm in Race 2, a Starter Allowance for four-year-olds and upward over 6½ furlongs. Six runners will compete for a $57,000 purse, a race type that often rewards professionalism, race craft, and the ability to seize small margins.
The afternoon will reach its focal point at 1:38 pm with Race 3, the feature of the day. Run over 1 1/8 miles, the Allowance Optional Claiming carries a $79,000 prize and demands both stamina and judgement. With only six runners declared, tactics will be magnified, and every move will matter as experienced runners look to make an early statement in the new year.
Contenders: King’s Leap, Palace Boss, Refuah, Cut the Cord, Wynstock, Willintoriskitall
At 2:08 pm, Race 4 brings a Maiden Claiming contest for three-year-olds over 6½ furlongs. Seven runners will chase $34,000, a race that often produces urgency, with connections eager to convert promise into performance.
The card will continue at 2:38 pm with Race 5, a Claiming race over 1 mile featuring seven runners and a $32,000 purse. The distance invites patience and positioning, often producing tightly grouped finishes and late surges.
State-bred focus will take centre stage at 3:08 pm in Race 6, a Maiden Claiming for three-year-olds foaled in New York State. Eight runners will contest 1 mile for $42,000, adding local depth and competitive pride to the program.
At 3:38 pm, Race 7 presents a Claiming event for fillies and mares four years old and upward, also over 1 mile. With eight runners chasing $28,000, consistency and resilience are expected to be decisive factors.
The curtain will come down at 4:08 pm with Race 8, a Starter Allowance for four-year-olds and upward over 1 mile. Nine runners will line up for $60,000, ensuring a strong, competitive finish to the opening day of the year.
Balanced fields, meaningful prize money, and a clear feature race give Aqueduct’s New Year’s Day card a sense of intent. Aqueduct Racecards 1 January is not about spectacle. It is about racing, cleanly framed and sharply contested, setting the rhythm for the season ahead.For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.