Jerome Stakes moved to January

by | 12.06.2012 | 5:09pm
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The Jerome Stakes (gr. II), which has been run in April for the past two years, will be run on Jan. 5, it was reported in the Daily Racing Form. The Jerome will replace the listed Count Fleet Stakes, which will not be run in 2013.

Moving the Jerome to January makes it a nice lead-in to the rest of Aqueduct’s Kentucky Derby (gr. I) preps. The Jerome, at 1 mile and 70 yards, will be followed by the Withers Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 2, the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles on March 2, and the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles on April 6.

Regarding the move, Andrew Byrnes, NYRA’s stakes coordinator, told the DRF, “Having a graded race there could make a difference. It’s nice to have a good 3-year-old program in place from January on.”

» Read more at Daily Racing Form
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  • Stanley inman

    a Grade ll Derby prep
    On January 5th in New York?
    January 5th?
    (let’s all say a prayer for NYRA)

  • Kris

    All of that slots money has befuddled the brains at NYRA.

  • BobC

    The Jerome probably won’t be a graded stakes for long.  It’s doubtful owners will run “name” horses in January in New York.  The Jerome will lose it’s graded status and become a listed stakes like the Count Fleet if NYRA continues with the January time frame.

  • LongTimeEconomist

    The Jerome is the second oldest stakes races in the US and many Hall of Famers have won it over the years. This degradation of such a great race is something I would expect from a Magna track and I am dismayed that the NYRA has stooped to such a level.

  • Figless

    This is especially dubious considering the new Derby qualifying rules and the belated change in date. Had it been announced earlier horseman could have adjusted their schedules accordingly.

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