Wood Memorial moved back for 2005

Wood Memorial moved back for 2005

The $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1), New York's final major prep

for the Kentucky Derby (G1), will take place on April 9, 2005,

four weeks before the first leg of the Triple Crown, according to

the Aqueduct Winter/Spring stakes schedule released on Friday. At

one time contested two weeks before the Derby, the nine-furlong

Wood Memorial was moved in 1994 to three weeks prior to the Derby.

"Every year, it seems that the horsemen want more and

more time between races for their horses, especially if they plan

on running in the Triple Crown races," said Michael Lakow,

racing secretary and handicapper for the New York Racing

Association (NYRA). "So, putting the Wood Memorial back a

week gives them time to get their horses on the top of their

game, particularly if they expect to run in the Derby, come back

two weeks for the Preakness (G1) and three weeks after that in

the Belmont S. (G1)."

Taking place on the same day as the Wood will be the $350,000

Carter H. (G1) at seven furlongs as well as the $150,000 Bay

Shore S. (G3) for sophomores at the same distance. The entire

Winter/Spring meet will feature 34 stakes, 16 of which are

graded, worth $4.35 million in purses.

Other changes to the 2005 schedule include the $75,000 Jimmy

Winkfield S., formerly the Best Turn, replacing the $75,000 Fred

"Cappy" Capossela S. on January 17, Martin Luther King

Jr. Day. The "Cappy" will move to February 19.

Also, there will be a purse reduction from $200,000 to $150,000

for the March 19 Gotham S. (G3), the major local prep for the

Wood.

Aqueduct's Winter/Spring meet is set to run from January 1

through May 1.