Aqueduct Racetrack

Aqueduct Racetrack is located in Ozone Park, New York, with racing conducted from early November through late April. Racing during the winter is conducted on the winterized inner track surface.

Races have been run at “The Big A” since 1894. Aqueduct is the only racetrack in New York City, occupying 210 acres in the borough of Queens, just eight miles from Belmont Park.

The inner track replaced the inner turf course in 1975, but the biggest change to the racetrack was the addition of a multi-level, 415,000 square foot casino, Resorts World Casino New York City. The casino, which occupies the former grandstand, opened in October, 2011, and expanded to a second floor in December, with more than 5,000 machines.

The top jockey all-time at the Big A is Richard Migliore, who won 2238 races. Trainers Gary Contessa and Bruce Levine are closing in on the all-time winning trainer Gasper Moschera, who won 925 races in his career.

The marquee event at the track is the Grade 1 Wood Memorial which is a key prep for the Kentucky Derby, although in recent years winning the race has not been a path to roses.

Toby’s Corner (2011), Eskendereya  (2010) and I Want Revenge(2009)would have each been one of the main contenders for the Kentucky Derby after their wins in the Wood but each came up with injuries that knocked them out of the race.

The 2012 Wood winner Gemologist checked in 16th in the Kentucky Derby.

The hall of famer Eddie Arcaro won the Wood a record nine times.

The only triple dead heat in stakes history happened at Aqueduct on June 10, 1944 when Brownie, Bossuet, and Wait a Bit hit the wire together.

Graded stakes run at Aqueduct:

Grade 1
Carter Handicap
Cigar Mile Handicap
Wood Memorial Stakes

Grade 2
Comely Stakes
Demoiselle Stakes
Distaff Handicap
Go For Wand Handicap
Gazelle Handicap
Jerome Stakes
Red Smith Handicap
Remsen Stakes
Top Flight Handicap

Grade 3
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