NEW YORK CITY — Aqueduct, New York City's last live horse racing track, is scheduled to conclude its live racing operations the weekend of June 27, 2026. The track, which has been in operation for more than 130 years, will host its final race, titled "It Was a Good Run," on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 5:44 p.m.

Live racing at Aqueduct will cease to allow for a roughly $550 million renovation of Belmont Park racetrack, located approximately nine miles east of Aqueduct on Long Island. Belmont Park is expected to reopen in September 2026. State funding for Belmont Park's renovation was contingent upon the New York Racing Association (NYRA) returning Aqueduct's more than 100 acres to the state for future redevelopment and consolidating thoroughbred races at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course.

Despite the end of live racing, Aqueduct will continue to offer simulcasting betting on televised races through September 7, 2026. A portion of the Aqueduct site currently hosts a Resorts World casino, which began offering live table games like blackjack, poker, and craps earlier in 2026 after winning a state license to operate a Las Vegas-style resort.

David Donk, a veteran horse trainer, recalled the venue's past. "There's a lot of history here. Just so many good horses," Donk said. He added, "It's had its use. But, you know, times change. Everything changes in life."

Events at Aqueduct include Secretariat winning the first race of his career in 1972 and returning for a final farewell in 1973. Seattle Slew also won a race at Aqueduct in 1977 as a tune-up for the Triple Crown, and Cigar launched a 16-race winning streak at the track in 1994. In 1995, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass with a crowd of 75,000 at Aqueduct.

Tom Rooney, President of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, cited changes in the sports gambling landscape. "For over 100 years, thoroughbred racing was one of very few sports outlets you could legally bet on," Rooney said. He added, "With the expansion of sports gambling, our sport will naturally condense and coalesce around a more pragmatic number of marquee tracks and locations, similar to other sports."

Andy Serling, the track's television analyst and race handicapper, addressed the closure. "We couldn't have gotten the money to rebuild Belmont and continue to race at Aqueduct. You have to make these choices," Serling said. He noted that while many will miss the track, there is excitement for the new facility. "I don't think you'll find anybody here that's not gonna tell you they're gonna miss Aqueduct, but we're also incredibly excited to be opening this beautiful new building at Belmont," Serling said.