Lessons Learned from an Aqueduct Excursion

Aqueduct Racetrack has always reminded me of the tough guy in movies that, beneath his frosty exterior, has a collection of stories that point to his sensitive and vulnerable core. Full of emotion, and yet ignored by many, this classic character often seems to rub people the wrong way. Then there emerge some people who can see beyond the well-built walls.
After all, as the wise Shrek once said, “ogres are like onions.” They have lots of layers.
I’m currently taking a class at Fordham University entitled “Online Journalism,” where students learn how to emphasize the aspects of their stories that have potential for a multimedia element, and how that can enhance their work. Becoming a journalist in today’s world no longer means simply being able to write a good story. Online news has changed the way we produce and consume news and entertainment. With the prevalence of social media platforms – Twitter, especially – anyone can be a journalist. We can all be content creators and information is spread rapidly. As a result it’s also more difficult to come up with a novel idea that hasn’t really been covered before. Have you ever looked at Twitter on a big race day? I hope you don’t mind spoiled endings.
When thinking about a topic for one of the assigned pieces in this class, I was looking for something that would give me the chance to highlight stories that may not always be the biggest topics of interest. While I wrestled with the idea for a few days, I eventually settled on what my heart had told me on the first day of class: I wanted to do my slideshow about Aqueduct. But, I didn’t want to cover just the cold (literally and figuratively) track filled with claiming races and gamblers that we so often see. I wanted to cover the living, breathing core of Aqueduct. The stories of the people who currently work there, and have worked there for years. The bettors, whose ages have changed but even though their surroundings largely have not. And the horses, who provide the incentive for all of the above.
As I’ve mentioned in a few of my other posts, I have an affinity for Aqueduct. I’ve always liked to root for the underdog. I feel protective of it and although I’m often made fun of, I really do look forward to every chance I have to visit Aqueduct. So after deciding that I wanted to use it as the subject for my latest school project, I selected some dates to take a few trips out there and do my homework, which included taking photographs and interviewing people that I’ve met. My first trip was just a few days ago, with my friend and ABR Brand Ambassador, Victoria Garofalo. Getting there from here didn’t look hard at all and we set out on a Thursday afternoon, bright eyed and bushy tailed.
THE TRAIN ROUTE

My New York City subway app said that it would take approximately 50 minutes to go from Columbus Circle in Midtown Manhattan to Aqueduct. A straight shot. Let’s just say that’s not exactly how things went down. Here, is the real story.
An Aqueduct Excursion: The Real Story
Apparently, there are two A trains, and although they run on the same track, they split once you get into the borough of Queens. Who knew? Not me.
Thankfully, Victoria realized this fact, and said that we had to get off at a certain stop, Rockaway Blvd, right before the split and switch trains. We would then be on the subway that would take us directly to Aqueduct. It seemed foolproof, but there was one problem. Our train never stopped at Rockaway Blvd.
Also it was raining.
Before we knew it, we were three stops past where we needed to be and at the end of the line. Literally. The A train didn’t go any further. So we got right back on the train we had just gotten off of, and decided we would try to go backwards and find Rockaway Blvd.
We probably could have gotten some help from the two police officers who were intensely questioning a nearby passenger but we thought we could do it ourselves.
So this time around, our train did indeed stop at Rockaway Blvd. Things seemed to be looking up. The issue? They were doing construction on one side of the track, so there was no way to get a train going the opposite direction. Our only option now was to jump on a moving A train as it went by on its way to Aqueduct (that’s illegal in case you didn’t know, and is something only seen in movies), or we could wait for another northbound train, much like the one we had literally just been on, and go one stop further where we could cross over and reverse backwards once more. This seemed like the only feasible way to go.
So there we were, this time at some stop known as 88th St – Boyd Avenue waiting for yet another train. One finally came. Did we get on? No, the sign on its side said it was going to Manhattan, and after all this, that was not what we wanted. The second it pulled away, a woman standing next to us who had clearly been eavesdropping told us that the sign was wrong and we could have taken that train to Aqueduct. Obviously she was very helpful (that was sarcasm).
GETTING ON THE RIGHT TRAIN WAS LIKE CASHING A WINNING TICKET

We hopped on the next train that came, and something familiar happened. You guessed it. This train was not going to Aqueduct, and passed by Rockaway Blvd yet again. We got off at yet another unknown stop, this time at 104th St – Oxford St, and tried to figure out our next step.
And remember those two police officers from earlier? Well they had also made it to Oxford St. Maybe they were also lost and looking for Aqueduct.
It was at this point in time that Victoria and I hit our breaking point. We had gone back and forth between the same four or five subway stops so many times that we were now confused about where we were or which way we wanted to go. I was beginning to question what state we were in. What my name was. What I was going to have for dinner. Big questions like that.
So uncertain about which train to get on or even when the right one would arrive, Victoria and I decided to walk from where we were. The navigation app on our phones said it would take nine minutes to walk to the track. I wanted to yell at Siri and tell her that she had lied about how long it would take to get there by subway and that I didn’t know how she could expect me to trust her this time around, but I contained myself.
Through the rain, and the cold, and the crazy drivers who like to run red lights, Victoria and I finally made it to Aqueduct. We walked in through the front gates next to all of the cars coming for the casino. Nothing has ever felt so rewarding as running, arms open wide, in the direction of slot machines and betting windows.
BREAKING FROM THE GATE AT AQUEDUCT

Conclusion
All this being said, you should by no means allow public transportation to deter you from visiting Aqueduct. Please learn from the suffering that Victoria and I endured. Don’t make the same mistakes, and follow these guidelines instead:
1) Map out your trip ahead of time – Check out the mta.info website if you’re planning on using public transportation. This way you’ll be able to see if there is any construction going on that could hinder your very well intentioned efforts to make it there by post time for the first race.
2) Take advantage of the casino – Resorts World Casino is on the same site as Aqueduct but, for all intents and purposes, is a separate entity. However, they have the Manhattan Coach Bus, which makes stops throughout Manhattan and takes you directly to the casino. Even if you’re not planning to try your hand at the slots, you’ll end up where you need to be.
3) Drive – Old fashioned, I know, but at least if you drive out to Aqueduct you’ll be able to bring your four different shoe options and maybe a great-aunt and second cousin along for the ride, with room to spare.
4) Phone a friend – It may be time to use that lifeline. I often talk about the importance of using your fellow racing fans as a resource. Find a friend who has been to Aqueduct before and tag along.
I hope to see you all next weekend at the Big A for the Wood Memorial – safe travels! (And just as an FYI, the subway ride back was a breeze.)