Track Trends

NYRA handicapper Andy Serling analyzes Aqueduct track trends and conditions in hopes to uncover insights about potential track biases. This can be a helpful resource for handicappers, as track conditions can change from one day to the next.

2025

Thursday, February 27

Fast
Cloudy
54
Wind 8 to 15 MPH South


While the rail was good, it’s not clear it was a significant advantage, and ultimately the track played fairly.

Sunday, February 23

Fast
Clear
44
Wind 7 to 16 MPH West


While there were a couple races where outside runners did well, for the most part the rail continued to be a significant advantage. Once again, worth following.

Saturday, February 22

Fast
Clear
36
Wind 6 to 15 MPH WNW


The rail was very good, and likely a significant advantage. There were some races that didn't play this way, but they were likely the result of paces that collapsed and forward horses that weren't particularly competitive. Most effective closers saved ground for a portion of the race. Worth following closely.

Friday, February 21

Fast
Clear
35
Wind 14 to 33 MPH NW

It’s hard to argue that the rail and speed were an advantage. Not insurmountable, but at the very least an edge. Worth following.

Saturday, February 15

Fast
Cloudy, snow showers later  
41
Wind 4 to 9 MPH ESE


The track appeared to have a significant outside flow. A couple of winners later ran towards the rail, but there still is an argument you were best staying off the inside. Worth following closely.

Friday, February 14

Good ( 1-4 ); Fast ( 5-8 )
Clear
37
Wind 13 to 26 MPH WNW


Arguably, most of the effective running was done well off the rail. Most results, however, were pretty logical. Worth following, as there may have been a bit of an outside flow, but it's far from clear.

Thursday, February 13

Sloppy ( sealed )
Cloudy
45
Wind 7 to 13 MPH ENE


Horses ran well inside, both on the lead and closing, as well as much of the effective running done well off the rail. Nothing to indicate the track wasn't fair overall, though it's possible there was some advantage to being forward.

Sunday, February 9

Muddy ( sealed )
Cloudy
37
Wind 10 to 12 MPH NW


After overnight snow and then rain, into the morning, the track was muddy and sealed. While a lot of the best running was done outside, we saw runners prove successful that showed speed on the inside, though they tended to drift off the rail in the stretch. Hard to say there was any bias.

Saturday, February 8

Fast
Cloudy
35
Wind 3 to 5 MPH WNW


A reasonable case could be made that speed was a distinct advantage. Not completely clear, as some may be related to pace, but it's at least worth considering.

Friday, February 7

Good
Clear
39
Wind 12 to 25 MPH West


The track played fairly with a mix of running styles, and a lot of short prices, proving successful.

Thursday, February 6

Muddy ( sealed )
Showers
37
Wind 9 to 22 MPH SE


There were times the rail looked like a big advantage, as well as speed, but there were races that fell apart and outside runners dominated. Dynamics, and talent, played the biggest role as ultimately, the track was fair.

Sunday, February 2

Fast
Cloudy
31
Wind 7 to 14 MPH NE


The track played fairly.

Saturday, February 1

Fast
Clear
35
Wind 16 to 34 MPH NNW


The rail was good, though likely not a big advantage, as overall the track played fairly.

Friday, January 31

Fast
Cloudy
45
Wind 4 to 8 MPH SSW


The track played fairly.

Thursday, January 30

Fast
Clear
35
Wind 10 to 21 MPH WNW


The track played fairly.

Sunday, January 26

Fast
Cloudy
40
Wind 9 to 20 MPH WSW


Worth considering that inside speed was an advantage though we saw some closers run effectively outside. Worth following.

Saturday, January 25

Fast
Clear
29
Wind 4 to 9 MPH WNW


The track played fairly with a mix of speed and closers running effectively.

Friday, January 24

Fast
Clear
32
Wind 5 to 14 MPH West


Speed did very well throughout the day, save the 5th race, but with short prices dominating the card, it's hard to say there was a strong bias, especially with one outlier race.

Thursday, January 23

Fast
Clear
27
Wind 2 to 7 MPH West


The rail was good, and may have been a slight advantage, but overall the track played fairly.

Sunday, January 19

Fast
Cloudy early, Showers later
39
Wind NA


Track was fair. Seemed like outside closers did well, especially early, but enough inside speed ran well to suggest there was no bias.

Saturday, January 18

Fast
Cloudy
46
Wind 11 to 24 MPH South

There was an extreme speed bias. Very little effective running was done from behind, save the 7th race. While the rail was good, and probably an advantage, it was speed that held up.

Friday, January 17

Fast
Clear
36
Wind 8 to 16 MPH WSW

The rail was good but the track played fairly.

Thursday, January 16

Fast
Cloudy
29
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SW

There were races where it looked like you were better off outside, but others where inside speed did well. Speed did well, but there were closers that ran their races. Seems like race dynamics played the biggest role, as they often do, and overall, we had a fair track.

Sunday, January 12

Fast
Clear
39
Wind 5 to 15 MPH NW

Another day when a lot of the best running was done outside but enough horses ran well towards the inside to suggest the track was fair.

Saturday, January 11

Fast
Cloudy
31
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW

While a lot of the best running was done outside, horses ran well inside too, suggesting the track was fair.

Friday, January 10

Fast
Clear
38
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW

The rail was definitely a good place to be, and a likely advantage, but we saw enough horse run effectively outside to suggest it wasn’t a strong bias. Still, worth following.

Sunday, January 5

Fast
Clear
33
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West

The track played fairly.

Saturday, January 4

Fast
Clear
33
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW

Another day where the riders avoided the rail, and it was reasonable to consider the rail to be off, but the 8th and 9th races refuted that, with horses running well on the rail. Likely a fair track.

Friday, January 3

Fast
Clear
37
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West

Like many recent days, much of the best running was done off the rail, but horses ran well enough inside to suggest the track was fair. It seems, more often than not, for whatever reason a lot of riders stay away from the inside, which does not necessarily mean the rail is bad.

Thursday, January 2

Fast
Clear
41
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West

The track played fairly.

Wednesday, January 1

Good
Cloudy
49
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West

The track played fairly. The rail was good but not an obvious advantage.
 

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