After being one of the most renowned venues in American horse racing for more than 130 years, Aqueduct Racetrack is preparing to host its final live race meeting. The Queens track, which has welcomed generations of racing fans and some of the greatest horses in the sport, will stage its final race on Sunday, June 28, before live thoroughbred competition is permanently moved elsewhere in New York.
This closure marked the end of an era the place was known as “Big A,” while also reflecting broader changes in the horse racing industry. Once one of the most prominent betting attractions in the country, Aqueduct now joins the list of historic racetracks that have ceased live operations as betting habits and entertainment preferences evolve.
Historic landmark reaches the finish line
Aqueduct opened in September 1894 and became one of the defining tracks of American racing. Over the decades, it played host to legendary horses including Man O’ War, Seabiscuit, and Secretariat, as well as being the site of Secretariat’s career debut in 1972.
The final race on Sunday was aptly named “It was a good trip.” Even though the live race will end, the facility will continue to offer live betting on televised races until September 7.
For longtime coach David Donk, the shutdown represents the end of a milestone and a natural evolution of the sport.
"There’s a lot of history here. So many good horses,” said Donk, as reported by the Associated Press. "It has its uses. But, you know, times change. Everything in life changes.”
The Aqueduct also plays host to events other than horse racing. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass before thousands at the venue in 1995, while the track became a backdrop to popular culture and generations of New Yorkers developed lifelong relationships with the facility.
The expansion of gambling reshaped the racing landscape
The waterway closure comes as horse racing continues to adjust to increasing competition from other forms of gambling.
Legal sports betting, online betting, casinos, slot parlors and state lotteries continue to diminish racing’s position as one of the few legal betting options available to consumers. According to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, approximately 75 thoroughbred racetracks now operate throughout the United States, compared with more than 300 horse racing facilities during the sport’s peak in the late nineteenth century.
“For more than 100 years, thoroughbred racing was one of the few sporting outlets you could legally bet on,” said National Thoroughbred Racing Association President Tom Rooney. “As sports gambling expands, our sport will naturally condense and coalesce around a more pragmatic number of tracks and tent locations, similar to other sports.”
The aqueduct is not the only landmark to have disappeared in recent years. Arlington Park in Illinois closed after being acquired for a potential NFL stadium project, while Golden Gate Fields in California also suspended its racing operations.
The changing gambling environment is already visible at the Aqueduct property itself. Most of the site now houses Resorts World New York City, which recently expanded into full-scale casino gaming after obtaining a state license and planning billions of dollars in further development.
Racing moves on to the next Belmont chapter
The aqueduct closure is part of a broader restructuring of thoroughbred racing in New York.
The New York Racing Association will consolidate racing operations at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course after Belmont completes an approximately $550 million redevelopment project. Belmont Park is expected to reopen in September after renovations.
The transfer also fulfills an agreement under which Aqueduct owns more than 100 acres of property will eventually return to New York State for future redevelopment.
Although many racing fans have turned their attention to Belmont and Saratoga over the past few decades, Aqueduct’s final weekend has prompted reflection among those who grew up around the track.
Many longtime visitors remember packed stands, legendary jockeys including Angel Cordero Jr., Jorge Velazquez and Steve Cauthen, renowned trainers such as Allen Jerkens and Frank Martin, and iconic riders including Chic Anderson, Dave Johnson and Tom Durkin.
The venue has also become known for its distinctive working class atmosphere, contrasting with the elegance associated with tracks such as Saratoga or Churchill Downs.
Attendance has declined significantly over the past few yearsreflected broader industry trends, but Aqueduct remained an important part of New York racing history until its last meeting.
With Sunday’s closing race, live competition comes to a close at one of America’s oldest racetracks. While betting activity will continue for the time being via simulcast, Aqueduct’s role as a venue for live thoroughbred racing will become part of the sport’s history as New York enters its next chapter at Belmont Park.
