Aqueduct Horse Racing

Aqueduct Racing

Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in South Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is the only racetrack located within the New York City limits.

Aqueduct has three courses:

• The Main Track (dirt) measuring 11/8 miles (1.8 km)
• The inner track (dirt), which is exactly 1 mile (1.6 km) long
• The innermost course is a turf (Tall Fescue) course, spanning 7 furlongs plus 43 feet (1.4 km)

History of Aqueduct Racetrack

The racetrack is owned by State of New York & Operated by New York Racing Association. Aqueduct closed in 1956 and re-opened three years later on September 14, 1959 after a $33 million renovation. It was designed by racetrack architect Arthur Froehlich of the firm Arthur Froehlich and Associates of Beverly Hills, California.

Aqueduct commenced its inaugural meet on September 14, 1959. It is actually the second New York track to bear the name with the first, located on almost exactly the same plot of ground, was demolished in the mid-1950s.

Aqueduct was the first New York track to host a Breeders’ Cup race on November 2, 1985. The Cigar Mile is named for one of the greatest horses, Cigar, who won the race in 1994.

Aqueduct Racetrack Information

Address: 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420, United States

Live Racing:  Wednesday – Sunday.

Live Racing Calendar:  January- April/November-December

Course type:  Flat/Thoroughbred

Notable races: Wood Memorial Stakes, Cigar Mile Handicap, Carter Handicap, Gazelle Stakes, Gotham Stakes, Wood Memorial Stakes, Comely Stakes, Demoiselle Stakes, Distaff Handicap, Jerome Stakes, Red Smith Handicap, Jerome Stakes, Top Flight Handicap

Main track: 1 1/8  miles, oval

Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,346 feet

Turf course: 7/8 mile

Stake Races Run at Aqueduct

Grade I:

Carter Handicap

Cigar Mile Handicap

Wood Memorial Stakes

 

Grade II:

Comely Stakes

Demoiselle Stakes

Distaff Handicap

Go For Wand Handicap

Gazelle Handicap

Jerome Stakes

Red Smith Handicap

Remsen Stakes

Top Flight Handicap

 

Grade III:

Aqueduct Handicap

Athenia Handicap

Bay Shore Stakes

Beaugay Handicap

Bold Ruler Handicap

Busher Stakes

Cicada Stakes

Excelsior Handicap

Fort Marcy Handicap

Gotham Stakes

Knickerbocker Handicap

Long Island Handicap

Nashua Stakes

Next Move Handicap

Queens County Handicap

Stuyvesant Handicap

Tempted Stakes

Toboggan Handicap

Tom Fool Handicap

Turnback The Alarm Handicap

Valley Stream Stakes

Withers Stakes

Sport Page Handicap

 

Non-Graded:

Affectionately Handicap

Busanda Stakes

Count Fleet Stakes

Damon Runyon Stakes

East View Stakes

Gallant Fox Handicap

Gravesend Handicap

Hollie Hughes Handicap

Interborough Handicap

Jimmy Winkfield Stakes

Ruthless Stakes

Stymie Handicap

Whirlaway Stakes