Jun 18, 2011

When Racing was King

The New York Times recently dug into its archives and ran a photo essay on NYC thoroughbred racing in the 1960's.

The most interesting picture from the bunch is this one:

Aqueduct 1966 (Image #12)

No, it's not Belmont Stakes Day. Instead, it was simply the meet-ending race card of the autumn Aqueduct meet in 1966.

This was back when racing mattered, and before it became the year-round grind it has now become. There was a beginning and an end to each year; in between the horses either went to Florida to continue running or took a vacation in places like Aiken, SC.

A setting that is gone forever ....

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