Back in May, I made a trip down to Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, NY to take some photos one last time before its closure on June 28. My first trip to the track was in 2024. Click here to read my post about that visit. Read on to see my photos from this more recent trip.
Aqueduct has been NYRA’s nearly year-round racing home (save for the Saratoga summer meet) since Belmont temporarily closed for reconstruction in 2023. Following the conclusion of this year’s Saratoga summer meet, the newly renovated Belmont Park will be NYRA’s racing home for the rest of the year.
On a given day at Aqueduct, you will find many a horseplayer handicapping and watching races on the TV.
Fans watch a race on TV.
A pony rider reads the program in between races.
Aqueduct may be a little worse for the wear these days, but in its heyday, it saw the likes of Hall of Famers like Cigar, Secretariat, Kelso, Gallant Fox, Omaha, and many others.
Horses race in the rain.
Pony riders’ saddle towels bear the name of Belmont Park as the track hosts the Belmont fall and spring meets.
Trainer Miguel Clément awaits the return of his mare Dividend Recap after winning an allowance race.
Ponies and pony riders take shelter in the saddling shed.
Roman Grace (pink saddle towel) wins an optional claiming event.
Jockey José Lezcano enters the paddock.
Jockeys Kendrick Carmouche (left) and Edgard Zayas enter the paddock.
Outrider Omar Pereira and his mount walk the track.
Durante wins the Grade II John A. Nerud Stakes with Ricardo Santana, Jr. onboard.
The track has been lean on attendance in later years, but fans used to pack the stands.
Dry Powder is led around the paddock prior to the Grade II Ruffian Stakes, where she finished fourth. She most recently won the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Jockey Kazushi Kimura rode Dry Powder in the Ruffian.
The field for the Ruffian heads down the stretch.
Irish Maxima runs away with the Ruffian with Frankie Pennington onboard.
Irish Maxima exits the winner’s circle.
Frankie Pennington talks to reporters after his win.
Chavo the pony waits in the paddock between races.
Stakes winner Kingsolver made the switch from dirt to turf in the Take the A Train Stakes for trainer Rodolphe Brisset (right), finishing second.
Cadenza was the winner of the Take the A Train Stakes with Manny Franco onboard.
Cadenza pulls ahead in the Take the A Train.
Cadenza heads to the winner’s circle.
Aqueduct was named after the former nearby Ridgewood Aqueduct.
To think of the greats that ran past these stands.
Graded stakes winner Trendsetter is walked around the paddock prior to the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes, where he finished third.
Growth Equity is walked around the paddock prior to the Peter Pan, which he won.
Brothers Rudy and Gustavo Rodríguez saddled Talk to Me Jimmy and Gulfy, respectively, in the Peter Pan. The former finished second while the latter finished fourth.
The Aqueduct paddock is below ground level owing to the harsh winter weather in New York.
Fan favorite Talk to Me Jimmy is led around the paddock.
Growth Equity heads out to the track.
The field breaks from the gate in the Peter Pan.
The field heads past the wire for the first time.
Ponies pass by after the start of the race.
Growth Equity pulls away from Talk to Me Jimmy.
Growth Equity takes the Peter Pan with Flavien Prat onboard.
Growth Equity returns to the winner’s circle.
The connections of Growth Equity smile for their winner’s circle photo. Trainer Chad Brown is third from left.
Analyst Andy Serling presents the trophy to Flavien Prat and Chad Brown.
The closure of Aqueduct means there will no longer be a racetrack within the New York City limits.
The future of downstate racing is the newly renovated Belmont Park. Even during the track’s closure, training has continued.
Horses wait to go onto the track following a renovation break.
An outrider keeps an eye on things.
Mentee (outside), a full brother to champion Fierceness, breezes in company with a stablemate.
Miguel Clément trainees Don’t Jinx It (outside) and Tawny Port breeze in company. The latter would go on to win the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga in June.
Belmont is home to many rabbits.
Amanda Villafranco rides a Miguel Clément trainee.
While I was at Belmont, I took the time to visit Reign It In, the horse I own a piece of. He’s in on Tuesday at Finger Lakes as the morning line favorite!
I created a video comprised of over 200 frames I captured at Aqueduct in 2024 and 2026. Click here to watch the video.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on X, Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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