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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) released its 2024 schedule, which includes 195 live racing days at Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course, the organization said in a release Thursday morning.

As previously announced, the ongoing construction at Belmont Park will require significant adjustments to the customary schedule. In addition to the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival being held at Saratoga Race Course from June 6-9, the fall and spring/summer meets traditionally held at Belmont will take place at Aqueduct Racetrack in 2024.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 Aqueduct fall meet on Dec. 31, the 47-day winter meet begins Monday, Jan. 1 and continues through Saturday, Mar. 30. Live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday for the first three weeks of January and Friday-Sunday from Jan. 26 through the first week of March. Aqueduct will host a Presidents' Day card on Monday, Feb. 19. Four-day race weeks resume on Mar. 7.

The 16-day Aqueduct spring meet will run from Thursday, Apr. 4 through Sunday, Apr. 28. The NYRA circuit will then remain at Aqueduct for the 31-day Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet, which will open on Thursday, May 2 and continue through Sunday, July 7. Racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday throughout the spring/summer with the exception of a Memorial Day program on Monday, May 27.

The 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 11 and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 2. Following the four-day opening weekend, live racing will be conducted Wednesday-Sunday with the exception of closing week, which will conclude on Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The NYRA circuit will then return downstate for the 31-day Belmont at the Big A fall meet, which will open on Friday, Sept. 13 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 3. Apart from the opening weekend, racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday throughout the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

The year will conclude with a 26-day fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will open on Thursday, Nov. 7 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 29. Apart from closing week, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday throughout the Aqueduct fall meet.

Click here for the complete calendar.

The post NYRA Rolls Out 2024 Race Dates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Champion 2-year-old male Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) was purchased by the Korea Racing Authority and arrived Dec. 18 to continue his stud career for the 2024 breeding season, as first reported by The Paulick Report and confirmed by Ashford Stud.

The 9-year-old stood at the farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where he was shuttled to Chile on multiple occasions. As of 2023, his oldest foals are 4-year-olds, and his progeny have won 113 races with earnings of more than $13.5 million.

Angel of Empire is his most successful offspring, who won this year's GII Risen Star S. and like his sire, the GI Arkansas Derby. Serving as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, the colt finished third. Classic Empire is also the sire of GISP Interstatedaydream, GSW Morello and GSW Classy Edition.

Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson and campaigned by John Oxley, Classic Empire won five of nine starts and earned $2,520,220. Named champion 2-year-old male, the Mark Casse trainee won the GIII Bashford Manor S., the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

At three, Classic Empire finished fourth in the 2017 Derby and was runner-up to Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) in the GI Preakness S. After an abscess was discovered in his right front hoof, he was sidelined for the GI Belmont S. and never raced again.

Classic Empire joins GISW West Will Power (Bernardini) among U.S.-based newcomers to Korea for next season.

The post Champion Classic Empire Purchased By Korean Racing Authority appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.