Photo Courtesy of NYRA
NYRA Vice President of Facilities Glen Kozak (far r.) on Tuesday accompanied State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. and Assemblywoman-elect Stacey Pheffer Amato on a tour of Aqueduct Racetrack.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The New York Racing Association on Tuesday provided a guided tour of Aqueduct Racetrack to area elected officials and members of the press, highlighting the enhancements and improvements made to the South Ozone Park facility since 2013.
As a result, the 210-acre Aqueduct, according to NYRA, is now “a more modern, better run facility than ever before.”
“The New York Racing Association is proud of the improvements and enhancements made since 2013,” added NYRA Director of Communications Patrick McKenna, “and we look forward to welcoming our loyal fans back to the Big A throughout the winter months.”
The $15 million financial commitment exceeds the amount spent on similar, guest-oriented capital improvements at Belmont Park over the same period of time, NYRA noted.
Enhancements include:
- Development and installation of the innovative “Aqueduct Murals” on both the interior and exterior of the facility.
- Development and construction of the ‘Silks Bar’ on the first floor, providing guests with improved service and amenities.
- Installation of 557 new high-definition televisions and several new HD video boards across the property, including a large infield HD display board.
- Installation of new lighting throughout the backstretch, across horse paths, and within parking lots.
- Upgrades to the infield, including a refurbished pond and new foliage, sod and shrubs.
- New paint schemes and art throughout the facility providing general improvements to the atmosphere.
- A new horsemen’s lounge above the paddock for owners and trainers.
- Enhanced Wi-Fi capability throughout the facility.
- Installation of Trakus technology for horseplayers.
- Installation of new, airport-style seating throughout the facility.
- Installation of hundreds of miles of modernized wire and cable throughout Aqueduct’s grandstand, clubhouse, paddock and infield. These modernizations, NYRA noted, provide vastly increased technological capacity.
The association called the construction of the state-of-the-art simulcast center, Longshots, with 270 dedicated carrels, a sports bar, and dozens of new HD televisions, “one of the most transformational additions” to the Big A.
“Soon to represent #Aqueduct, got a head start this morning by meeting with @TheNYRA to hear about improvements and ways to get even better!” Assemblywoman-elect Stacey Pheffer Amato tweeted on Tuesday morning.
Additionally, NYRA this week announced its annual “Toys for Tots” weekend of giving is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 at Aqueduct.
Offered in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve “Toys for Tots” Foundation, with support from thoroughbred owner Harold Lerner and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the TFT program collects and distributes new, unwrapped toys to local children in need each holiday season. Donation boxes will be located at Aqueduct’s main clubhouse entrance, as well as at the Turf and Field entrance.
“I really believe in anything you can do for kids that unfortunately get left behind in the holiday season; it’s a wonderful thing to put a smile on their face,” said Lerner. “I’ve been committed to this program for a number of years after being initially introduced to it by my trainer Gary Contessa, who has been contributing part of his earnings to ‘Toys for Tots’ on a Saturday in the past for years and thankful to be a part of it again.”
For more information on the USMC Toys for Tots Foundation, visit toysfortots.org.
