Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: Feb. 2, 2018
The New York Racing Association Feb. 1 announced it will continue an enhanced program for 2-year-olds leading up to two $150,000 stakes scheduled for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in June.
The racing office will card eight maiden races, each worth $100,000, as trials for the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria Stakes for 2-year-old fillies June 7 and the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont Stakes for 2-year-olds June 8. The schedule is as follows:
Astoria Trial A, at 4 1/2 furlongs, will be run April 18 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Astoria Trials B and C, both at five furlongs, will be run May 3 and May 16 at Belmont Park.
Tremont Trial A, at 4 1/2 furlongs, will be run April 19. Tremont Trials B and C at five furlongs are scheduled for May 4 and May 17 at Belmont.
NYRA said it will once again supplement the 2-year-old spring program with a pair of five-furlong turf trials at Belmont. For fillies, Astoria Trail D will be held May 24, while Tremont Trial D is scheduled for May 25.
The fields for the trials are limited to 10, with the winner to receive $50,000. All starters in each race will be paid according to the following structure: Should 10 horses start, the second- through sixth-place horses would receive $20,000, $10,000, $7,500, 5,000 and $4,000, respectively, with the remaining $3,500 divided among the seventh through 10th-place finishers.
Separately, NYRA will offer bonus money of up to $25,000 to the owners and trainers of New York-bred runners that finish first, second or third in any state-bred or open maiden 2-year-old race during the Aqueduct spring meet or Belmont spring/summer meet.
Under the program, which is supported in partnership with the New York Breeding Fund, owners would receive $9,000 for a first-place finish, $4,500 for second and $2,500 for third. Trainers would get a bonus of $4,000 for first, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third.