Jamaica Racetrack

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Jamaica Racetrack was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility opened at Jamaica, Queens, New York on April 27, 1903 by the Metropolitan Jockey Club. One of the tracks founder's and a former president, was Eugene D. Wood for whom the Wood Memorial Stakes is named.

Legendary Hall of Fame horse trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons was the first to train at Jamaica Racetrack and Native Dancer made a winning debut here on April 19, 1952.

The facility's attendance record of 64,679 was set on Memorial Day, 1945. It was home to ongoing races such as the Frizette Stakes, Paumonok Handicap, Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap, Wood Memorial Stakes, Remsen Handicap, Bed O' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap, and the Jamaica Handicap.

In 1955, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) took over management of Jamaica Racetrack. In the late 1950s, NYRA undertook renovations on the other track in the Greater Jamaica area, Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, and Jamaica took the Big A dates. On August 1, 1959, with Aqueduct reopening that year, Jamaica ceased operations. Today it is the site of the Rochdale Village housing development.

[edit] References

• Jamaica Racetrack information at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation website

[edit] See also defunct New York race tracks:

• Brighton Beach Race Course
• Gravesend Race Track
• Jerome Park Racetrack
• Morris Park Racecourse
• Sheepshead Bay Race Track