The New York Racing Association will help connections and fans say farewell to Aqueduct Racetrack with a memorable closing weekend celebration June 27 and 28.
Aqueduct Racetrack, affectionately known as the Big A, opened Sept. 27, 1894, on property that belonged to the old Brooklyn Water Works, which was home to a conduit that brought water to New York City from the vast Hempstead Plain.
Through the years, the Big A has been the scene of some of racing’s landmark events, including Secretariat’s debut July 4, 1972. Hall of Famers Man o’ War, Sword Dancer, Kelso, Buckpasser, Dr. Fager, Secretariat, Forego, Easy Goer, and Smarty Jones built their legends at Aqueduct, and Cigar, for whom the Cigar Mile Stakes (G1) is named, won the first two races of his 16-race winning streak at the Big A…