Changes taking place at Aqueduct

Big A changes in store

Horses will now need 14 days off between races in order to run at Aqueduct, part of the changes made yesterday by The New York Racing Association and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. Horses will not be allowed to start until the 15th day following their previous race, beginning Thursday.

In addition, effective immediately, any horse losing by 25 or more lengths must complete a half-mile workout in 53 seconds or less to enter a future race. A horse losing by 25 or more lengths will be placed on a poor performance list by the NYRA steward. The list will be available to the public on NYRA.com.

The changes come as the associations attempt to enhance stringent safety protocols for thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct.

"The safety of our equine athletes and jockeys at Aqueduct Racetrack is a high priority," said Christopher Kay, NYRA's president and chief executive officer.

Starting Thursday, NYRA is also trimming its live card at Aqueduct to eight races Wednesday through Friday with a 1:20 p.m. post time. Post time on weekends will be 12:45 p.m.

"The measures announced by NYRA today constitute an important step toward addressing the troubling situation at Aqueduct," said New York State Gaming Commission executive director Robert Williams. "We continue to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of each fatality and work closely with NYRA management in order to determine if additional actions need to be taken to protect horses and riders."