Racing Celebrating the Sport of Kings...in Queens

Community Board #10 Chair Betty Braton, State Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, and State Senator Serphin Maltese assembled in the Aqueduct Racetrack winner's circle on Saturday to present the trophy for the 103rd running of the Queens County Handicap to Mike Luzzi and Jeff Runco, jockey and trainer of winning horse Researcher, while friends and family look on.

The jockey attributed the win to the "perfect trip" Researcher had around the Aqueduct oval, but the trainer's trip was anything but perfect trip. “This is my first graded stakes win and it means even more getting it in New York. But I almost didn’t get to New York. My flight got delayed into JFK and I only got here a half hour before the race,” Runco said.

Racing to Support Jamaica Hospital

After Saturday’s second race at Aqueduct, New York Racing Association officials presented a $4,000 check to representatives of Jamaica Hospital, the community beneficiary of the proceeds of last weekend’s “Stocking Stuffer” promotion. “We are pleased to help support such a fine community asset and all the good work it does,” said NYRA Community Relations Manager Joanne Adams.
From left to right: Roberta Goro, the hospital’s Director of Development; Dr. Antonietta Morisco of the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Board of Trustees; NYRA Community Relations Manager Joanne Adams; jockey Sebastian Morales, winner of the second race; and NYRA President & CEO Charles Hayward.

Manhassat Food Drive and Holiday Show

NYRA was pleased to donate its promotional giveaway items to the Annual Manhasset Food Drive and Holiday Show. NYRA joined the Mets, Yankees, NBA, WNBA, Giants, Islanders, Jets, Rangers, and the Knicks in providing sports items for this event.

Joanne Adams, NYRA’s Community Relations Manager, is presenting one of numerous giveaway items to John Minogue, an organizer and founder of the Annual Holiday Show. The Bayview Civic Association organized the first show in 1995 for all of the children in Manhasset. Food donations benefit Island Harvest.

Toys for Tots

The United States Marine Corps’s annual “Toys for Tots” program was a big winner at Aqueduct Racetrack over the weekend.

Trainer Gary Contessa pledged 10 percent of his earnings on Saturday to the cause, and that total was matched by the New York Racing Association. The minimum to Toys for Tots was $2,000.
Meanwhile, Big A fans and employees contributed four giant boxes of new toys. Cash contributions were still being calculated on Sunday.

USMC Major Chuck Kilbride and Gunnery Sergeant Alexander Mesa represented The Marines, and NYRA President and Chief Executive Officer Charles E. Hayward made the presentation of the donations.

The weekend also helped Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, as fans donated $1 to the center and received a NYRA free giveaway item.