Aqueduct grandstand now closed. - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

tzipi · 11-11-2009, 03:57 PM

Recently they have closed off the only part of the grandstand that was still open. So now it's just the clubhouse and clubhouse outside skirt that is open,which kind of stinks because now you can't see the horses before the finish line running down the stretch in person! You can only stand about 20-30 yards past the finish line now. No more entry or betting machines in grandstand. I know it was open for BC but I'm sure that was just to handle the added crowd and betting.

I do not know what their point is to shut off the actual stretch grandstand to the people? Can I see the horses I'm betting through you,running down the stretch? Would that be so bad? Are they trying to make people even madder.
People were mad and actually pulling the wooden fences off recently so they could get outside and today they were actually chained up,so you could'nt move them. One guy actually had to have his kids climb over the fences and he jumped over the bar so he could get outside to watch the horses. Good job NYRA.

Could Aqueduct be the only track in America right now with a closed grandstand?

the_fat_man · 11-11-2009, 04:00 PM

So, you're the only one out there outside of the NYRA telecast crew and the horse connections?

tzipi · 11-11-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

So, you're the only one out there outside of the NYRA telecast crew and the horse connections?

Ha! Yeah and a few others. Actually good crowd for Veterans day and kids there too with parents. Well I mean even though they get just about 1,500 a day,you should let those bettors watch the horses down the stretch. I never thought a track would close off their stretch grandstand!

the_fat_man · 11-11-2009, 04:24 PM

So the pot smoking Rastas are now all over at the OTB on Rockaway Blvd?

miesque · 11-11-2009, 04:43 PM

Maybe that section of the roof overhang is ready to fall down at any time? Maybe they are actually trying to keep attendance/business down on purpose? (sounds crazy but sometimes you do have to wonder). I just know that if you think too hard about why they do a lot of things your head might just implode.

PaceAdvantage · 11-11-2009, 04:56 PM

Maybe they're readying for construction to start up on the long promised slot parlour?

That would be my guess.

No signs Tzipi? No signs explaining what is going on?

Space Monkey · 11-11-2009, 05:07 PM

How sad really. Closing the grandstand is like making everybody sit in the outfield at a baseball game. I never thought I'd see the day this would happen at a major NY track.

onefast99 · 11-11-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space Monkey

How sad really. Closing the grandstand is like making everybody sit in the outfield at a baseball game. I never thought I'd see the day this would happen at a major NY track.

Just go to the meadowlands they have everything roped off with yellow caution tape, similar to the type used in stores when the floors are freshly mopped. I am sure PA is right they are probably getting their construction permit and readying for full construction.

PaceAdvantage · 11-11-2009, 05:58 PM

Didn't they close the grandstand at Penn National when they were building the dreaded casino?

miesque · 11-11-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Didn't they close the grandstand at Penn National when they were building the dreaded casino?

Penn National demolished the entire grandstand to a pile of rubble and started from scratch (which is what they should do at Aqueduct if they are really serious about having a decent facility). However, prior to the demolition Penn constructed a new building next to the grandstand (top of the stretch) for its customers which was a basically a simulcast facility complete with a temporary paddock for the races. Once the new building was ready they shut down the grandstand and move operations to the temp location and the wrecking balls came in. Philly Park did it the wrong way by going about it in a piecemeal fashion.

fmolf · 11-11-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miesque

Penn National demolished the entire grandstand to a pile of rubble and started from scratch (which is what they should do at Aqueduct if they are really serious about having a decent facility). However, prior to the demolition Penn constructed a new building next to the grandstand (top of the stretch) for its customers which was a basically a simulcast facility complete with a temporary paddock for the races. Once the new building was ready they shut down the grandstand and move operations to the temp location and the wrecking balls came in. Philly Park did it the wrong way by going about it in a piecemeal fashion.

the final bid should be awarded soon so construction will likely begin soon.Major Improvements and much sprucing up have been promised by all the different bidders and now gov. and senate majority leader just need to select the winning bidder.Remember the more of the place that is open for few patrons the greater the cost to the racetrack as well.

Robert Goren · 11-12-2009, 01:00 AM

From what I understand nobody (and certainly not New York state) has any money fix anything involving horse racing in NY. Even the NY governor is not stupid enough to use tax money to fix up a race track.

badcompany · 11-12-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

So the pot smoking Rastas are now all over at the OTB on Rockaway Blvd?

Jamaicans are the worst handicappers I've ever seen. Even when they win they lose:

"I bet the 2 horse. He win, but, the bumboclot clerk give me the 3!!"

onefast99 · 11-12-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miesque

Philly Park did it the wrong way by going about it in a piecemeal fashion.

The way PP did it was indeed the right way,why? Because they were watching out for the horseman first, the first floor horsemans area was turned into a casino and they moved everyone upstairs to the racing floor where you have the same exact thing a 20% discount for horseman to sit and eat and a nice simulcast area with plenty of tv's including smaller ones at the tables(many)the only gripe anyone could have is the time it takes to get from the paddock back up to the racing floor but if you have a horse in you can still sit in the owners boxes where they have always been on the first floor. Did you see how nice the new casino looks? Give them credit they did a very nice job.

miesque · 11-12-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onefast99

The way PP did it was indeed the right way,why? Because they were watching out for the horseman first, the first floor horsemans area was turned into a casino and they moved everyone upstairs to the racing floor where you have the same exact thing a 20% discount for horseman to sit and eat and a nice simulcast area with plenty of tv's including smaller ones at the tables(many)the only gripe anyone could have is the time it takes to get from the paddock back up to the racing floor but if you have a horse in you can still sit in the owners boxes where they have always been on the first floor. Did you see how nice the new casino looks? Give them credit they did a very nice job.

No, have not been there since its completion, Penn is my primary track in PA. However, I have heard so many complaints regarding how horseplayers and fans were treated who wanted to watch the races during the entire process, nothing positive whatsoever until I read your comment that you thought they did it the right way.