Rice Closes Out Aqueduct as Its All-Time Leading Trainer
Rice won 1,222 races at the Big A, more than any trainer in its history, and took its final spring/summer title. El Grande O won on the last day.
When live racing ended at Aqueduct on June 28, 2026, Linda Rice was the track’s all-time leading trainer, with 1,222 wins.
She also won the final Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet with 31 wins from 122 starters, a 25.4% win rate, and $1,849,283 in purses. It was her third title at that meet, after 2023 and a tie with Todd Pletcher in 2011. The stable topped the owner standings too, with 16 wins. Mursal and Bite and Strike each won twice.
On closing day, barn favorite El Grande O won a six-furlong optional claimer for owner Barry Schwartz. It was his seventh win at the Big A.
“He’s a funny little horse. You’d think he’s a pony if you didn’t know it.”
Linda Rice, on El Grande O
Rice’s best afternoons at Aqueduct included four editions of the Distaff Handicap: two with champion La Verdad, one with Holiday Disguise and one with Mommasgottarun. She also won the 1996 Remsen with The Silver Move, the 2016 Excelsior with Kid Cruz, the 2020 Withers with Max Player, the 2023 Bay Shore with Joey Freshwater, and the 2026 Excelsior with Yo Daddy.
“It’s hard to leave Aqueduct because we’ve won a lot of races here. We try to play the game at every level, and we enjoy it.”
Linda Rice
