Loud Music went to Void Race at Aqueduct Racetrack

Racing at Aqueduct Racetrack was unexpectedly canceled on Sunday due to loud music from an adjacent casino event, leaving trainers, jockeys, and bettors frustrated. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) made the decision just 31 minutes after the first of eight scheduled races was set to begin, citing safety concerns for both horses and riders.

Source of loud music was the sound system introduced for an automobile and bike show at Resorts World Casino adjacent to the racetrack. Officials of the New York Racing Association said they had not been notified about that event in advance, thereby making it difficult for them to prepare for its effect on racing operations.

“Resorts World just put an event in a parking lot right next to the top of the stretch without notice to the New York Racing Association or an opportunity to talk about how this might affect the operations of our racing.’ – Andrew Offerman, Vice President, New York Racing Association.

The random noise level made the condition unsafe and so NYRA stopped racing for the day. The organization is now calling up the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the New York State Gaming Commission to figure out how to compensate for the lost races-“just to continue for that purpose.

Many trainers and racing professionals were caught off guard by the sudden racing event cancellation. Veteran trainer Mark Henning, who had horses entered in the Sunday races, said he received immediate reports from his staff about the excessive noise levels.

“I heard the music was loud. The ground was vibrating, it was so loud,” Henning said. “My assistant said (someone) had called the cops, apparently, and when the cops came, they turned it off. But then they turned it back on. I don’t know if it was after the cops left, or maybe the cops told them that they don’t have any jurisdiction.”

The unexpected racing event cancellation not only disrupted racing operations but also affected bettors and racehorse owners, many of whom had already invested in the day’s events.

This is not the first time that external factors from Resorts World Casino have interfered with racing at Aqueduct Racetrack. On October 11, an overpowering chemical odor from a roofing treatment project at the casino forced officials to evacuate certain areas of the racetrack and cancel the day’s races. New York Racing Association had to install industrial fans overnight to ventilate the building in time for racing to resume the next day.

Sunday’s racing event cancellation raises concerns about better coordination between the New York Racing Association and neighboring businesses to prevent similar disruptions in the future. While NYRA did not have prior notice of the casino’s auto and bike show, racing officials may now push for stricter communication policies and planning to ensure racing schedules are not impacted by outside events.

The next steps for rescheduling or compensating for the lost races remain unclear. New York Racing Association has assured trainers and racing participants that it will explore ways to make up for the missed opportunities. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required to maintain smooth racing operations in a shared commercial space.

After the present period of suspension, it is expected that horse racing will be resumed at Aqueduct Racetrack over the coming days. Officials are working hard to make sure that no untoward external influences interfere.