Aqueduct Racetrack’s last day of live thoroughbred racing on Sunday drew an attendance of 6,866, with a “line of racegoers stretched long around the block prior to the doors opening at 11 a.m.” and the never-filled general parking lot “overflowing by noon,” according to Andrew Gross of NEWSDAY. The day was “mostly devoid of closing day pomp-and-circumstance” but videos highlighting the 132-year history of Aqueduct were “played both prior to and after the ninth and final race.” Belmont Park will reopen to live racing on Sept. 18 and be open year-round, save for the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. Aqueduct will remain open for simulcasting through Sept. 7. The Belmont Park funding legislation, which provided a $455M loan to redevelop the Elmont facility, required the N.Y. Racing Association to relinquish its lease at Aqueduct to the state and “consolidate all downstate racing operations to one track.” It has yet to be determined how the property will be redeveloped (NEWSDAY, 6/28). BLOODHORSE’s Bob Ehalt wrote Aqueduct enjoyed a “fitting and emotional farewell.” The day was filled with “many reminders of the people, races, and horses that made Aqueduct great for so long.” Jockey Kendrick Carmouche led several jockeys “into the grandstand to celebrate with the fans” (BLOODHORSE, 6/28).
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