Trainer Linda Rice notched 40 wins for her second consecutive winter meet crown, while jockey Manny Franco posted 64 victories to win his third consecutive winter meet title at Aqueduct Racetrack. Drawing Away Stable bested all owners with 19 wins for the abbreviated winter meet that ran from Dec. 12 through Mar. 15.
“It's exciting to win another title,” said Rice of her title defense. “I was pleased to finally come away with a win last year and it's great to build on that success. I changed my business model five years ago to stay in New York year-round and not divide my stable between New York and Florida. I think that's certainly helped us to gain more ground on the New York circuit. New York has really good purses and we've concentrated on racing here for the most part.”
Originally scheduled to run through Sunday, Mar. 29, the New York Racing Association, Inc. suspended racing Mar. 19 due to changing circumstances in the racing community relative to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Saturday, NYRA announced that live racing at Aqueduct was canceled for the remainder of the winter and spring meets with the building set to serve as a temporary hospital site during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
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