The riders competing in this year’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct will now be jockeying for a $1 million purse –the largest in Wood history.
The purse for this year’s renamed Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial has increased from $750,000 through a presenting sponsorship from Resorts World New York (RWNY) to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), officials from both groups announced on Thursday, March 17.
Charles Hayward, NYRA president and CEO, said that the Wood Memorial has always been a race for enthusiasts to highlight – but this year, with Resorts World at the helm, he believes the spectacle will only grow.
“Resorts World has been a great partner and this sponsorship reflects the depth of their ongoing commitment to New York racing,” said Hayward. “We are eagerly anticipating the opening of the Resorts World New York Casino, a cutting-edge facility that will help create stability for the state’s thoroughbred industry and reinvigorate the community surrounding Aqueduct Racetrack.”
The race, scheduled for April 9, serves as one of the final prep races on the NYRA circuit for the prestigious Triple Crown, comprising the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial has long been a springboard to Derby success – as 11 Wood winners have gone on to take the Run for the Roses.
RWNY president Mike Speller said that increasing the Wood Memorial purse is one of the ways that he hopes the refurbished Aqueduct can help support New York’s long stagnant racing industry.
“From the beginning, one of our goals in building the new casino facility at Aqueduct has been to strengthen and support New York’s storied horseracing industry,” he said. “Through this partnership with NYRA, we have taken a significant step in that direction.”
The Aqueduct Racino is slated to open early. Click here for more.
