What was Aqueduct like....

[WinterTriangle]

when they had the BC there?

Just wondering.

[The_Knight_Sky]

when they had the BC there?

Just wondering.


Aqueduct was a real racetrack back in 1985.
There are some good Classics on Flickr.

From 1965 entrance is now closed. But what if?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/festin2008/2959895172/in/photostream/

From 1992:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/easygoer/3033517153/in/photostream/

EasyGoer has another fabulous one of The Aqueduct paddock
(and all that greenery) before they dug a crater smack dab in in the middle of South Ozone Park. :ThmbDown:

[tzipi]

I wish they would've kept the Aqueduct blue for the grandstand. Hate that new brown color.

[bane]

Some great photos! I have only been to Aqueduct in 2007 and in March so it's great to see how nice it was.

Quick question (im sure it's been answered) when did they shutdown half of the grandstand and only opened uped the clubhouse?

[tzipi]

By the way. GREAT pics in that collection!

[Java Gold@TFT]

when they had the BC there?

Just wondering.
From my failing memory it was a really nice Fall day for NYC. Jacket weather and partly cloudy. They had a fresh coat of paint on everything and the crowd was moderate in my opinion. You could walk around and I don't remember having any problems betting. I spent a lot of time on the apron near the 1/16th pole. I was 22 and it was my first trip to Aqueduct so it was all new to me.

I do remember starting off the day of betting the wrong way as I bet a nice little horse named Storm Cat in the Juvenile and he got nailed at the wire by Tasso. I made up a little bit when Pebbles won the Turf but gave that back with my Chief's Crown/Gate Dancer exacta in the Classic.

I haven't been to Aqueduct in years. My guess is that it has been on a slow downward spiral since the mid 90's. Recent pictures just prove that. Maybe they will take some of the VLT building fund and revive the racing area as well as build the casino.

[tubesockshakur]

the 1985 classic......the most underrated b cup race ever. the race gate dancer ran and didnt get his picture taken :eek:

[KidCapper]

http://stats.breederscup.com/bcosShowDocument.cfm?id=7

[Pine Tree Lane]

I do remember starting off the day of betting the wrong way as I bet a nice little horse named Storm Cat in the Juvenile and he got nailed at the wire by Tasso. I made up a little bit when Pebbles won the Turf but gave that back with my Chief's Crown/Gate Dancer exacta in the Classic.



Bring back memories?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4906239595_2b217ef4df_z.jpg

[Pine Tree Lane]

Here is a shot of the old paddock. It was designed based on the paddock at Chantilly.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3377622470_6a7071bea8_z.jpg

[The_Knight_Sky]

It was designed based on the paddock at Chantilly.




Chantilly is far more aesthetically pleasing than the current "winterized" dugout.
Today's fans have been removed from the horses and the personalities.
Not the kind of a place you'd want to bring family and friends for a day at the races.

The NYRA would do well to plan for annual capital improvements
to its racetracks, with or without slots revenues. :ThmbUp:
Complete neglect is not an alternative.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4911597931_f2f0ae1795.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_knight_sky/4911597931/)
Scraping the bottom of the barrel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_knight_sky/4911597931/) by The_Knight_Sky racing blog (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_knight_sky/), on Flickr

[PaceAdvantage]

Not the kind of a place you'd want to bring family and friends for a day at the races. Honestly, what is so wrong with the it? Based on your picture, it actually looks quite nice. It's not the serene setting of Saratoga, but what do you want for a winter track?

[Java Gold@TFT]

Honestly, what is so wrong with the it? Based on your picture, it actually looks quite nice. It's not the serene setting of Saratoga, but what do you want for a winter track?
I dragged my soon to be wife to Aqueduct for Easy Goer's Wood. It was cold, sterile, windy and the few people around the generic paddock pit spoke very little English. She huddled up just inside the doors with her coffee while I took pictures in what they now call a walking ring/paddock. It became a sterile (not medically but asthetically) environment. If I find another horse who gets me excited enough to go back to AQU I know she will not be with me unless the VLT's are in place but even then I doubt it.

And Pine Tree Lane, thanks for the memory. I watched the race again yesterday on the BC site (they have all of the BC races) and I knew he was 2 lengths in front when he passed the 1/16th pole and still got nailed at the wire. It was funny watching the replay and seeing Groovy in front for the first 1/2 mile.

[PaceAdvantage]

I dragged my soon to be wife to Aqueduct for Easy Goer's Wood. It was cold, sterile, windy and the few people around the generic paddock pit spoke very little English. She huddled up just inside the doors with her coffee while I took pictures in what they now call a walking ring/paddock. It became a sterile (not medically but asthetically) environment. If I find another horse who gets me excited enough to go back to AQU I know she will not be with me unless the VLT's are in place but even then I doubt it.

And Pine Tree Lane, thanks for the memory. I watched the race again yesterday on the BC site (they have all of the BC races) and I knew he was 2 lengths in front when he passed the 1/16th pole and still got nailed at the wire. It was funny watching the replay and seeing Groovy in front for the first 1/2 mile.I wasn't trying to paint Aqueduct as something it's not...I was just commenting on the picture TKS presented as evidence...from that particular photo, it looks quite nice, so I think that pic is a bad example of what he was trying to show...

[46zilzal]

new coats of paint, not the crowd like 84 at Hollywood.

Lord Derby landed in the infield in a helicopter to see Teleprompter run.

It was cold and Precisionist loved it.

Pincay took Tasso almost 8 wide to catch Storm Cat near the wire.

The crowd showed their usual East coast bias in the betting...yelling at Cordero as if he walked on water

Pebbles, who won the Turf, was escorted by her gelding "boy friend": Come on the Blues, to the post after the ran third in a stake on the Friday thereby paying his way over.

Lady's Secret ran a big one as Darryl Wayne ran 1 2 in the Distaff behind Life's Magic.

The hooded wonder, Gate Dancer, blew the Classic again as darkness overtook the place.

[The_Knight_Sky]

I wasn't trying to paint Aqueduct as something it's not...I was just commenting on the picture TKS presented as evidence...from that particular photo, it looks quite nice, so I think that pic is a bad example of what he was trying to show...

Actually I wasn't trying to convey much other than the design of the paddock itself. Sam "The Bugler" just happened to be the focal point in a heavily cropped image.

My first trips to Aqueduct took place in the late 1980's and was struck at the history and aura upon entering the Linden Avenue gate for the first time. This was big league racing back then. (read: no conditioned claimers).

The grounds were kempt and had a nice atmosphere both in the grandstand and the clubhouse side. Today The Clubhouse is the only section open for man or beast. There were functional entrances on both sides, no netting where the flea market junk flies around. And a real paddock! Not like the Roman amphitheater that's in place today.

But I share JavaGold's concern that even with casino revenues how much of the improvements to the facility will be made with the live horse racing experience in mind?

As it stands, the elitists are quite content to be removed from the dredges of society with this winterized paddock. But New York racing can do better than this. I look forward to someone (anyone) in the mainstream media getting the details on what is planned for the horse racing segment at the racino. Hopefully it won't be the second coming of PARX in NY.

[46zilzal]

Cordero, on Life's Magic, signed this one years later

[Stevie Belmont]

I love Aqueduct, but of all the tracks I have been to, I am the furthest away from the horses there.

I never went to Aqueduct before they changed the paddock. I do have the Breeders' Cup on VHS from the year it was there, and that was before they changed the paddock. And I liked the way it looked back in the day.

Nonetheless you can still get a pretty good view of the horses along the railing. You can look right down in there. You are just not as close to the horses as you are at Monmouth Park or Belmont, or for that matter Saratoga.

You can sit above the paddock upstairs and have a birdseye view right into the paddock. You are literally directly above it. A pair of binoculars do come in handy. It can be a little difficult to see everything with the naked eye from up there.

Tom Durkin says he loves calling the races at Aqueduct. Of the three tracks in New York he said it's the best one to call a race. He gets a fantastic view from up there.






Chantilly is far more aesthetically pleasing than the current "winterized" dugout.
Today's fans have been removed from the horses and the personalities.
Not the kind of a place you'd want to bring family and friends for a day at the races.

The NYRA would do well to plan for annual capital improvements
to its racetracks, with or without slots revenues. http://w3.hidemyass.com/images/UBGX/I9.gif
Complete neglect is not an alternative.



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4911597931_f2f0ae1795.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_knight_sky/4911597931/)

Scraping the bottom of the barrel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_knight_sky/4911597931/) by The_Knight_Sky racing blog (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_knight_sky/), on Flickr

[thespaah]

when they had the BC there?

Just wondering.It was in good shape.
Cold day. A bit on the damp side, but tolerable for that time of year in the NY Metro area.
I woke up that morning and almost passed because the gloomy skies and chilly temps..But I had to be there. So I saddled up(no pun intended) and made the drive.
BTW, I paid just $10 to get in and scalped a seat outside for $20. Sat at the sixteenths pole in the second level.
No pidgeon poop. No peeling paint.
Gotta remember, back then 8,000 to 10,000 showed up on track on a normal weekday at the Big A.....

[thespaah]

Honestly, what is so wrong with the it? Based on your picture, it actually looks quite nice. It's not the serene setting of Saratoga, but what do you want for a winter track?I haven't been to Aqu in a long time. Some on here say the track is in disrepair. Others say the gradnstand is no longer open. Customers are limited to the Clubhouse area only.
My thinking is that NYRA made a bsuiness decision to not maintain the facility to the highest of standards due to the hullaballo surrounding the VLT stuff.
It is entirely possible that now the go ahead for construction is expected, the Big A will get a giant facelift. Of course that is a guess.

[thespaah]

new coats of paint, not the crowd like 84 at Hollywood.

Lord Derby landed in the infield in a helicopter to see Teleprompter run.

It was cold and Precisionist loved it.

Pincay took Tasso almost 8 wide to catch Storm Cat near the wire.

The crowd showed their usual East coast bias in the betting...yelling at Cordero as if he walked on water

Pebbles, who won the Turf, was escorted by her gelding "boy friend": Come on the Blues, to the post after the ran third in a stake on the Friday thereby paying his way over.

Lady's Secret ran a big one as Darryl Wayne ran 1 2 in the Distaff behind Life's Magic.

The hooded wonder, Gate Dancer, blew the Classic again as darkness overtook the place.
My nickname for Gate Dancer was the "Hooded Monster" due to his propensity for mid stretch mischief...His skullduggery in the '84 BC Classic made me a bunch of money as I had Wild Again on top of my exactas....

[joanied]

I started going to the Big A in the late 60's...at that time, it was a pretty nice place...I don't care for that new paddock they set up...the 'Pit'...the old one was way better...I have some great race memories from there too...but even back then I thought the inside of the Grandstand was kinda cold, there wasn't much in the way of nuance...it was a betters race track, but the grandstand was always full...that breeze off the ocean could chill your bones on cold autumn days, and having the planes flying directly over the grandstand was annoying...when I had to van over running a horse, I did dread that...hated the barns, all cinderblock, they were cold & damp and not a blade of grass around them...
well, all this had nothin' to do with Winter Triangle's original question...but gave me a chance to think back to the good ol' days:) :) :)

[thespaah]

I started going to the Big A in the late 60's...at that time, it was a pretty nice place...I don't care for that new paddock they set up...the 'Pit'...the old one was way better...I have some great race memories from there too...but even back then I thought the inside of the Grandstand was kinda cold, there wasn't much in the way of nuance...it was a betters race track, but the grandstand was always full...that breeze off the ocean could chill your bones on cold autumn days, and having the planes flying directly over the grandstand was annoying...when I had to van over running a horse, I did dread that...hated the barns, all cinderblock, they were cold & damp and not a blade of grass around them...
well, all this had nothin' to do with Winter Triangle's original question...but gave me a chance to think back to the good ol' days:) :) :)
There were times I went to the Big A when the wind was coming off Jamaica Bay. I always dressed for it. However there is nothing worse than a cold damp breeze save for a cold rain....If it was sunny, I'd retreat to the rear of the grandstand and stand in the sun to warm up.
We went for the Woodthe year Pleasant Colony won. We had no idea it was gonna be that cold... When we left Nrn NJ at 10 am it was 60 degrees. It never got out of the 40's at Aqu because the wind was off the water...I guess that was my only gripe about the track.

[joanied]

thespaah...you should have tried sittin' in the barn for hours holdin' the lead shank for your horse being iced before race time...bbbbrrrrr!! I couldn't wait for Red's truck to come around so I could get a hot chocolate!!
:)

[tzipi]

I haven't been to Aqu in a long time. Some on here say the track is in disrepair. Others say the gradnstand is no longer open. Customers are limited to the Clubhouse area only.
My thinking is that NYRA made a bsuiness decision to not maintain the facility to the highest of standards due to the hullaballo surrounding the VLT stuff.
It is entirely possible that now the go ahead for construction is expected, the Big A will get a giant facelift. Of course that is a guess.

Grandstand is still open but just a small part of the 1st(only on weekends) and 3rd floor. All else is closed,but that is due to the contruction they have wanted to do for the racino I figure. 90% of the crowd is in the clubhouse I'd day. I mean I love Aqueduct. It's not Belmont or Saratoga but if you're a real racing fan you have to appreciate its history and great views of a race. I wish they'd go back to the old Aquduct blue though.

[tzipi]

thespaah...you should have tried sittin' in the barn for hours holdin' the lead shank for your horse being iced before race time...bbbbrrrrr!! I couldn't wait for Red's truck to come around so I could get a hot chocolate!!
:)

I've been there Joanied. :D Worked for a few trainers. It's no warm,enjoyable Belmont. Aqueduct will chill you to the bone when you're out there with the horses. Good times though.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Cordero, on Life's Magic, signed this one years later


That picture is amazing!

Besides seeing Gene Klein, that was probably the last time all the light bulbs http://i55.tinypic.com/ff1jxz.gif worked on a NYRA toteboard. ;-)

[thespaah]

thespaah...you should have tried sittin' in the barn for hours holdin' the lead shank for your horse being iced before race time...bbbbrrrrr!! I couldn't wait for Red's truck to come around so I could get a hot chocolate!!
:)DId that a few times at Meadowlands during the winter....
I swear the lower part of Bergen County during winter is the windiest place on the face of the earth.
I have a friend who worked there and was stabled there. He complained about getting to work at 5am and the horses water buckets had ice in them.
At least when we had one racing we could put the horse on crossties in his stall. Allowed me to move about to keep warm.

[alhattab]

Great thread. Interesting stuff everyone. I think when the Big A reopened in 1959 it was viewed in the same manner as Shea Stadium was at the time- a marvel. Today one can't understand why, but I think at the time people valued utility and practicality much more than asthetics. Shea had moveable seats that could maximize views for football and baseball! Imagine that! The sheer size of the Big A was what amazed people it seemed.

The Wiki entry is ok but the links from the NY Times are pretty good if you can access them. The few I read talked about 42,000 betting $3.4 million on the Big A's reopening, with an 11% takeout cited, and a piece from Steve Crist about the opening of Equestris, which was the Big A's answer to Pegasus. Sort of sounds like a high end daytime coke den (which it probably was, also) the way Crist describes it- this was the 80s after all!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_Racetrack

[The_Knight_Sky]

I never went to Aqueduct before they changed the paddock. I do have the Breeders' Cup on VHS from the year it was there, and that was before they changed the paddock. And I liked the way it looked back in the day.




I never thought of checking out the old Breeders Cup tapes.
1985 was when I first got wind of a "championship event" being held.
I was a Meadowlands Harness fan up to that point.

If memory serves me correctly, Englishman Brough Scott was on that NBC telecast. I thought he was arrogant but now that I look back at it he was on the mark about the superiority of the Euros.

The 1985 Breeders Cup may be the only Breeders Cup ever at Aqueduct
according to the response from Mr. Hayward at yesterday's NYRA Live Webchat:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RUC6ZCSryHY/TIBLBOI8iYI/AAAAAAAABuQ/kWOovb_hFus/s1600/ch.jpg

[Stevie Belmont]

The Breeders' Cup was televised on NBC in 1985. I remember watching the tape. Some familar faces popped up.

I remember after one race they tossed it back to Harvey Pack and John Vietch for post race comments. I forget the race, but they were both outside. Harvey happened to rub John's bald head at one point with a smile on his face.

The expression on Vietch's face was priceless.

[bane]

Would descrbing Aqueduct is a larger version of Turfway be a fare comparison?

Granted Aqueduct has a number of resturants and bars but they need to be upgraded badly.

Doesn't help when last time you go you are hungover :bang:

[tzipi]

Would descrbing Aqueduct is a larger version of Turfway be a fare comparison?

Granted Aqueduct has a number of resturants and bars but they need to be upgraded badly.

Doesn't help when last time you go you are hungover :bang:

Does have good number of places to eat. They have an old, huge, what looks like a mahogany bar on the second floor near the back but its been closed for as long as I can remember. Pretty cool area and classic bar. Shame they don't use it.
In the back of the first floor tucked away in the corner, there's some cool cartoon paintings from years ago. Some nice gems at Aqueduct when you look around. I wish it was back to it's heyday. No Bel or Saratoga but its still a good place if you're a real fan of racing.