One of American racing's most recognizable venues is preparing to host its final live meeting this weekend, as Aqueduct Racetrack closes the book on a remarkable 132-year history.

The Queens, New York, racetrack, affectionately known as "The Big A," stages its last two days of live racing on June 27 and 28 before operations permanently shift to the newly redeveloped Belmont Park. The move marks one of the most significant changes to New York racing in generations, ending an era that began when Aqueduct first opened in 1894.

For more than a century, Aqueduct has been the backbone of New York's winter racing program. While Saratoga Race Course became synonymous with summer and Belmont Park with championship racing, Aqueduct earned a reputation as the track that kept the sport alive through harsh northeastern winters.

Its racing surface has witnessed some of the greatest names in Thoroughbred history. Legends including Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Easy Goer, Cigar and many others competed at the historic oval, while countless Hall of Fame jockeys and trainers built their careers on its dirt.

The closure is the culmination of a long-term strategy by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to consolidate year-round racing at Belmont Park following a $450 million redevelopment project. The modernized Belmont will reopen later this year with new facilities designed to accommodate racing throughout the calendar, eliminating the need for a separate winter venue.

NYRA has organized a series of farewell celebrations throughout the weekend, recognizing the track's place in American racing history. Fans can enjoy commemorative programs, souvenir photographs, live entertainment and special giveaways, including jars containing dirt from Aqueduct's historic main track. Sunday's ninth race fittingly carries the title "It Was a Good Run," serving as the final race ever contested at the venue.

Although Aqueduct has often lived in the shadow of Belmont Park and Saratoga, its contribution to American racing is impossible to overstate. It hosted countless Grade races, served as New York City's only Thoroughbred racetrack, and became home to generations of horsemen, racing fans and unforgettable performances.

When the gates open for the final time this weekend, it will be more than the end of another race meeting. It will signal the closing chapter of one of North America's most historic racetracks—a venue whose legacy will endure long after the last horse crosses the finish line.

Beginning later this year, New York racing enters a new chapter at Belmont Park. But for many racing enthusiasts, Aqueduct will always be remembered as the resilient home of winter racing and one of the sport's true landmarks.