Aqueduct horse racing returns as NYRA and jockeys work toward resolving dispute
Horses take off during a race at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, Queens, on April 4. Credit: Newsday/Kendall Rodriguez
Four days after Sunday’s jockey-led protest resulted in the cancellation of eight of nine races at Aqueduct, live racing resumed at the track.
Thursday’s eight-race card started just after 12:40 p.m. and was completed as scheduled. NYRA and the Jockeys’ Guild had what was described as a “productive meeting” that lasted several hours Monday, and Thursday’s return to racing marked a significant step in the parties moving past the dispute.
“Racing at Aqueduct creates important economic opportunities for trainers, owners and jockeys,” NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna said in a statement to Newsday. “The purse money awarded is then returned to communities across Long Island and throughout the state. The resumption of racing today helps turn the page on Sunday’s events, and NYRA looks forward to a strong weekend at Aqueduct.”
A nine-race card was planned for last Sunday, but only the first race occurred. The assistant clerk of scales “expressed reservations” about the added responsibility to include the written recording of weights following each race as a backup to the digital scale system, according to NYRA, which replaced him with a substitute before post time. After the conclusion of the first race, the jockeys – led by Kendrick Carmouche, who declined comment Thursday – called NYRA management to complain about the issue.
NYRA provided Newsday an update on its weight-recording protocols on Thursday.
“As an additional integrity measure, and to modernize operations, NYRA will be installing surveillance cameras to record the weigh-in and weigh-out process for every race at all NYRA facilities,” McKenna said. “We expect to have this system in place by year end.”
Also effective Thursday, the duties of the assistant clerk of scales have been reassigned to alternate NYRA racing officials.
As a result of Sunday’s cancellation, NYRA announced the addition of one day of live racing next Wednesday at Aqueduct. Entries for the card were scheduled to be taken Thursday.
The jockeys also raised “several unrelated issues” Sunday, NYRA said, including the longstanding New York State Gaming Commission rule that prevents family and friends from accessing the jockey’s room. The jockeys then decided “to abandon” the rest of Sunday’s program, according to NYRA. Jockeys’ Guild CEO Terry Meyocks said Tuesday that the NYSGC rule is “one of the top” grievances for the jockeys.
Jockeys' Guild co-chairman and jockey John Velazquez was not at Aqueduct on Sunday, but he participated in Monday’s call and was part of Thursday’s card.
“I think it was very well received with the meeting that we had, and I think we put everything to rest and we go forward,” Velazquez told Newsday on Thursday.
Discussions between the parties are still ongoing, but Velazquez added that he does not think there will be another hiccup going forward. He said: “We will not have another situation.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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