Aqueduct opens

Aqueduct begins its 45-day Fall Meet on Wednesday with larger purses and

improved facilities. The Big A will conduct racing Wednesdays through Sundays.

Regular post time is 1 p.m. (ET) through November 3, then 12:30 p.m. thereafter.

The track will be closed from December 17-25 for the Christmas break. The barber

shop and the first floor grandstand will be open on all racing days.

Earlier this month, New York Racing Association President and Chief Executive

Officer Charles E. Hayward announced purse increases through December 30, the

final day of the meet. Daily average purses are projected to rise approximately

12 percent, or $43,800, from $365,000 during the corresponding meet last year,

to $408,800 this year.

"Better purses attract better horses and better horses attract bettors,"

Hayward said. "Aqueduct is an historic track -- New York City's track -- and we

look forward to it opening for the Fall Meet."

The biggest physical change at the Big A is to the Sunny Jim Room. Named for

the legendary Hall of Fame trainer "Sunny" Jim Fitzsimmons, whose 70-year

training career from 1894-1963 included managing such top horses as Triple Crown

winners Gallant Fox and his son, Omaha, as well as Granville, Nashua and Bold

Ruler, the Sunny Jim Room harkens back to an early 1900s' theme.

The old-time feel of the room has been enhanced with modern-day technology.

The television walls have been enhanced with the addition of two AOB boards. A

raised platform has been built to accommodate 21 handicapping desks, and there

are three carpeted areas in front of the platform with betting machines inside

old bookie stands. In addition, the ambiance includes chalk boards and etched

glass racing scenes.

The box seat area has undergone a makeover, and third-floor grandstand

seating has been changed from the old wooden seats to vinyl. Nearly 400,000

square feet of painting, more than in the past four years combined, has been

accomplished, including the clubhouse entrance and window wall, which was

painted from roof to ground.

The $300,000 Cigar Mile H. (G1), the last Grade 1 event of the year in New

York, is the marquee event of the HolidayFest on November 24. The card also

includes the $200,000 Remsen S. (G2) for two-year-olds at nine furlongs, and its

filly counterpart, the $200,000 Demoiselle S. (G2).

The $100,000 Fall Highweight H. will be featured on Thanksgiving Day, while

the $150,000 Top Flight H. (G2) is the highlight on Black Friday.

SHOWdown, NYRA's ever-popular on-line contest, returns on opening day. For

additional information, visit nyra.com.

As always, "New York City's Racetrack," is accessible by subway via the "A"

Train to Aqueduct Station.