Aerial view of Aqueduct Racetrack courtesy of Empire State Development
New York is moving forward with the redevelopment of the sprawling Aqueduct Racetrack site in South Ozone Park. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the start of the community engagement and planning process for 100 acres of the state-owned Queens racetrack, which will close this summer before moving horse racing operations to Belmont Park on Long Island. The state announced two workshops will take place this month to gather input from the public on priorities for the development, including housing, open space, and retail.
Aqueduct, which opened in 1894, will host its final races on June 28, 2026. Plans to close the facility and shift operations to the new Belmont Park racetrack have been in the works for several years. The multi-year redevelopment of Belmont Park will wrap up this fall, and live racing is expected to return this September…