Aqueduct Racetrack
110-00 Rockaway Blvd Jamaica, NY 11420 Phone: (718) 641-4700 Website www.NYRA.com/Aqueduct
Racing Season: Winter Meet: January to March Spring Meet: April Fall Meet: November & December
Notable Aqueduct Stakes Races
- G1 Carter Handicap - 4-year-olds & up going 7 furlongs on dirt
- G1 Cigar Mile Handicap - 3-year-olds & up going 1 mi. on dirt
- G2 Gazelle - 3-year-old fillies going 1-1/8 mi. on dirt
- G2 Wood Memorial - 3-year-olds going 9 furlongs on dirt
- G2 Remsen Stakes - 2-year-olds going 9 furlongs on dirt
- G2 Demoiselle Stakes. - 2-year-old fillies going 1-1/8 mi. on dirt
- G2 Nashua Stakes - 2-year-olds going 1 mi. on dirt
- G3 Gotham Stakes - 3-year-olds going 1-1/16 mi. on dirt
History of Aqueduct Racetrack
One of America’s oldest horse racing venues, Aqueduct Racetrack opened in 1894. The property at the time belonged to the Brooklyn Water Works, on a parcel also containing an aqueduct bringing water to New York City from the Hempstead Plain.
Aqueduct is the only racetrack in New York City, sitting on over 200 acres in the South Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, adjacent to JFK International Airport.
In 1944, Aqueduct was the scene of one of horse racing’s more unique all-time events. On June 10th of that year, the only triple dead heat in stakes racing history took place as Wait a Bit, Bossuet, and Brownie all simultaneously crossed the finish line of the Carter Handicap. In subsequent years, accomplished thoroughbreds such as Secretariat, Smarty Jones, Easy Goer, Man o’ War, Kelso, Dr. Fager, Forego, and Sword Dance laid the foundation for their legacies while racing at Aqueduct.
In the late 1950’s, the racetrack added a new grandstand, barns, racing surface, and other facility buildings. The track’s re-opening on September 14th, 1959 drew a crowd of over 40,000 and earned widespread praise. In the 1960’s while nearby Belmont Park was closed for reconstruction, Aqueduct hosted the Belmont Stakes for several years.
Winter racing came to Aqueduct in 1975 as the track opened its winterized inner dirt track where the old 1-mile turf course had previously been located.
The 1980’s featured the opening of the multi-level Equestris restaurant, and two rounds of additional facility improvements including expanded paddocks and grandstands and the construction of mini-theatres.
In 2011, Aqueduct opened a massive, multi-level casino where the old grandstand has been located. The 415,000 sq. ft. Resorts World Casino New York City is operated by Genting New York LLC.
In 1944, Aqueduct was the scene of one of horse racing’s more unique all-time events. On June 10th of that year, the only triple dead heat in stakes racing history took place as Wait a Bit, Bossuet, and Brownie all simultaneously crossed the finish line of the Carter Handicap. In subsequent years, accomplished thoroughbreds such as Secretariat, Smarty Jones, Easy Goer, Man o’ War, Kelso, Dr. Fager, Forego, and Sword Dance laid the foundation for their legacies while racing at Aqueduct.
In the late 1950’s, the racetrack added a new grandstand, barns, racing surface, and other facility buildings. The track’s re-opening on September 14th, 1959 drew a crowd of over 40,000 and earned widespread praise. In the 1960’s while nearby Belmont Park was closed for reconstruction, Aqueduct hosted the Belmont Stakes for several years.
Winter racing came to Aqueduct in 1975 as the track opened its winterized inner dirt track where the old 1-mile turf course had previously been located.
The 1980’s featured the opening of the multi-level Equestris restaurant, and two rounds of additional facility improvements including expanded paddocks and grandstands and the construction of mini-theatres.
In 2011, Aqueduct opened a massive, multi-level casino where the old grandstand has been located. The 415,000 sq. ft. Resorts World Casino New York City is operated by Genting New York LLC.
The 2020 Aqueduct Fall Meet
Every year fans eagerly anticipate the announcement of the Fall Meet, an action packed month of lucrative races hosted at New York City's historic racecourse. 2020 is no different, with "The Big A" offering 29 between Nov. 6th and Dec. 6th, including 11 graded events, worth a whopping $3.41 million in total purse money.
Highlights include Cigar Mile Day on Dec. 5th, which features a stacked card of important graded stakes including the Grade II Remsen Stakes and The Demoiselle, its filly counterpart. The day is capped off with the Grade I, $250,000 Cigar Mile.
Check out the full schedule below!
| DATE | RACE | Grade | 2020 PURSE | AGE | DISTANCE |
|---|
Nov. 6 | Tempted | $100,000 | F2YO | 1 Mile | |
Nov. 6 | Atlantic Beach | $80,000 | 2YO | 6 F (Turf) | |
Nov. 7 | Turnback the Alarm | III | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 1/8 Mile |
Nov. 7 | Stewart Manor | $80,000 | F2YO | 6 F (Turf) | |
Nov. 8 | Nashua | III | $100,000 | 2YO | 1 Mile |
Nov. 14 | Artie Schiller | $100,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mile (Turf) | |
Nov. 14 | Notebook (NYB) | $100,000 | 2YO | 6 Furlongs | |
Nov. 15 | Winter Memories | $100,000 | F3YO | 1 1/16 (Turf) | |
Nov. 15 | Key Cents (NYB) | $100,000 | F2YO | 6 Furlongs | |
Nov. 21 | Red Smith | III | $100,000 | 3&UP | 1 3/8 (Turf) |
Nov. 22 | New York Stallion Series - Thunder Rumble Division (Restricted) | $100,000 | 3&UP | 7 Furlongs | |
Nov. 22 | New York Stallion Series - Staten Island Division (Restricted) | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 7 Furlongs | |
Nov. 27 | Comely | III | $100,000 | F3YO | 1 1/8 Mile |
Nov. 27 | Gio Ponti | $100,000 | 3YO | 1 1/16 (Turf) | |
Nov. 27 | Forever Together | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 1/16 (Turf) | |
Nov. 28 | Long Island | III | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 3/8 (Turf) |
Nov. 28 | Discovery | III | $100,000 | 3YO | 1 1/8 Mile |
Nov. 28 | Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship | $100,000 | 3&UP | 6 F (Turf) | |
Nov. 28 | Central Park | $100,000 | 2YO | 1 1/16 (Turf) | |
Nov. 29 | Fall Highweight | III | $100,000 | 3&UP | 6 Furlongs |
Nov. 29 | Autumn Days | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 6 F (Turf) | |
Nov. 29 | Tepin | $100,000 | F2YO | 1 1/16 (Turf) | |
Dec. 5 | Cigar Mile | I | $250,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mile |
Dec. 5 | Remsen | II | $150,000 | 2YO | 1 1/8 Mile |
Dec. 5 | Demoiselle | II | $150,000 | F2YO | 1 1/8 Mile |
Dec. 5 | Go For Wand | III | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 Mile |
Dec. 6 | New York Stallion Series - Great White Way Division | $250,000 | 2YO | 7 Furlongs | |
Dec. 6 | New York Stallion Series - Fifth Avenue Division | $250,000 | F2YO | 7 Furlongs | |
Dec. 6 | Garland of Roses | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 6 Furlongs |