Aqueduct Inner Dirt Track
Aqueduct Racetrack got its name from the conduit for the Brooklyn Water Works that ran nearby.
The track originally opened in South Ozone Park on September 27, 1894 on land leased from
descendants of the area's original Dutch settlers. New track offices and a clubhouse were built
in 1941. The track was torn down in 1956 to give way to a $33 million racetrack that was opened
in 1959. The inner dirt track was once the one mile turf course but with the advent of winter
racing in 1975 it was converted to a winterized surface that is much different from the main
track.
Long the subject of race track myth, the Aqueduct inner track does not have heating coils
underneath nor is it laced with anti-freeze chemicals. A stable base is what makes the track
usable through the winter months. At first a clay base was tried with salt mixed in, but after a
few years the salt worked its way out and became an irritant to the legs of some horses,
especially when wet. The present formula consists of the following layers, top to bottom:
3 3/4-inches to 4 inches of sandy loam cushion; 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch clay silt sand pad; 8-inch
limestone screening base; sand for drainage; and, finally, natural soil.
The one-mile inner track with 4-1/2 percent banking on its two tight turns may not suit every
horse, but it allows Aqueduct to continue the sport through the coldest months of the year with
few cancellations. Although it is the only winterized track in New York State, it is not unique.
Penn National originated the first such track in the early 1970s and this year Turfway Park has
installed the synthetic Polytrack surface for year-round racing. Before Aqueduct opened its inner
track in 1975, winter racing in New York was unheard of.
Many players cringe when the inner track opens because they don't realize that their
handicapping style must change to accommodate the dynamics of the track. Races at a mile now go
two turns with a short sprint into the first turn. Seven furlong races cannot be run since there
is no chute and races can't be started on the turn. Most don't even realize that at 1,155.5 feet
the stretch run is the longest of any NYRA track due to it's compressed oval configuration.
The most important thing to know is that the Aqueduct inner track is a speed favoring surface
especially at the mile, mile and 70, and mile and a sixteenth distances. Posts 1 through 3 have
an advantage at these distances as these runners will usually be into the first turn near the
rail and enjoying a ground saving trip. It is not uncommon to see outside runners being fanned
very wide on the first turn and being greatly compromised. Races at a mile and an eighth and
beyond are more fair with the longer run to the turn.
Speed is critical with sprints as well but the posts are not as important. Regardless of post,
horses with early foot will be trying to "clear and tuck" so as not to be caught too wide on the
turn. Off the pace horses will usually try to get the inside ground saving trip before coming
outside for the drive. It is important to watch the early races closely. When the rail is
"golden" the regular NY riders will do anything they can to be on it. Depending on weather
conditions there will also be days when they avoid it as the rail can be cuppy and dull when wet
and draining.
Trainer angles are important. Winter stalwarts as Richard Dutrow, Gary Contessa, and Bruce Levine
will have upward of 60 horses on the grounds. Gary Contessa scrapped plans to open a division at
Turfway Park and Levine canceled plans to keep horses in Maryland. The Maryland based Robert
Bailes, who enjoyed a solid meeting last year with about a dozen runners, will have 18 to 24
horses at Aqueduct for the winter. Kelly Breen (30), Tony Dutrow (20), Justin Nixon (30), and
Jason Servis (30) will have a stronger presence in New York than in winters past. With most of
the big outfits moving south for the winter it is crucial to know which conditioners are going
well. Some of the lesser known trainers make the brunt of their yearly earnings during this meet.
In summation there are many outstanding wagering opportunities to be had at the Aqueduct inner
meet but the player must take the time to do his homework and be on top of what angles are
working from day to day and even from race to race depending on the weather. This surface plays
to more angles than just about any other track and the last one we leave you with is the "Horse
for the Course" angle. Some runners just have bad years but come to life when they race on the
inner track. It is not uncommon to see a horse with an outstanding record over the inner be
ignored at the windows after tough times at Belmont and Saratoga. These overlays can be very
live. Enjoy the meet and keep thinking inside speed.
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