Aqueduct to re-open to fans on November 11

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that Aqueduct Racetrack will re-open to the public on Thursday, November 11, which is opening day of the 2021 fall meet.

Originally closed to fans during the height of the COVID-19 emergency in March of 2020, Aqueduct then became the site of a New York State mass vaccination center in January 2021. The vaccination center, which has distributed more than 300,000 COVID-19 inoculations to date, was a critical piece in the New York State led effort to quickly and efficiently vaccinate New Yorkers. The size and scope of the center, which occupied the entirety of Aqueduct’s first floor, required the continued closure of the facility to the general public.

“We are proud to have partnered with New York State so that so many New Yorkers had easy access to these incredibly important vaccines,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “NYRA would also like to thank our loyal fans for their patience as we worked to bring them back to the Big A. Aqueduct is New York City’s racetrack, and we couldn’t be happier to finally be able to open the doors once again on November 11.”

NYRA previously announced that the Belmont fall meet, originally scheduled to conclude on October 31, will be extended to include three additional dates from Friday, November 5 through Sunday, November 7. These dates were originally scheduled to be run at Aqueduct Racetrack as opening weekend of the Aqueduct fall meet. As a result, the 15-day Aqueduct fall meet will now begin on Thursday, November 11 and continue through Sunday, December 5.