Ageism (n) – The stereotyping and prejudice against individuals or groups because of their age.

Not around Aqueduct. Just look at Evening Attire, Explosive Count, Cool N Collected, Bailero, No Parole, or any number of veterans who still know how to get to the finish line in a hurry. And not only are these 9-year-olds and up still running – they’re running successfully.

In fact, the 10-year-old Evening Attire could be on the verge of making history. Should he win the 53rd running of the $75,000 Stymie Handicap at nine furlongs on Saturday, March 1, records indicate he would be the oldest horse to win a currently-run stakes race in New York.

“It would be something if he could win,” said Pat Kelly, who trains Evening Attire for his father, retired Hall of fame trainer Tommy “T.J.” Kelly, and Joe and Mary Grant

In 2007, Evening Attire became one of a handful of horses ever to win multiple stakes races at the age of 9 when he added the Grade 3 Queens County Handicap in December to his earlier victory in the Stymie.

Other 9-year-olds who have won stakes in New York include Revved Up, who won the 2007 John’s Call Stakes; John’s Call himself, who won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsh Turf Classic in 2000; the late John Henry, who won the Turf Classic in his Eclipse Award-winning season in 1984, and Affirmed Success, who won the 2003 Toboggan Handicap.

“He was unique in that he won at different distances over different surfaces at the highest level,” said Richard Schosberg, who took Affirmed Success to four Breeders’ Cups. “He won everything from the Carter Handicap to the Toboggan.”

The “King of Aqueduct,” of course, was King’s Swan, who was so much a part of the winter racing scene at the Big A his retirement was honored with a special ceremony in December of 1990. The gelding, trained by the late Richard Dutrow Sr., started 107 times – not all of them at Aqueduct, although it may have seemed that way -- winning 31 races and $1.92 million.

“He was a professional horse to be around; he did everything you wanted a horse to do,” said Dutrow’s son, Richard Dutrow Jr., in a 2006 interview.

Those who work with older racehorses voice a common theme: their professionalism.

“I love the older horses,” said Schosberg. “By the time they’re five years old, they get it. Having an older horse like that, it takes you a few years to figure out that they are actually training you. It was an honor to have Affirmed Success train me.”

That sentiment was echoed by trainer David Jacobson, who is involved with several of the more senior members of Aqueduct’s regulars.

Last Saturday, Jacobson’s elder statesman, the 10-year-old gelding Explosive Count, was claimed out of his barn for $7,500 in his 81st start. The next day, Jacobson turned around and paid $12,500 to claim the 11-year-old Cool N Collective, who had won his previous two starts (and who finished second that day in his 62nd start).

“A friend once estimated that the average age of the horses I train is over five years old,” said Jacobson with a smile. “I think the old timers, who are very experienced, are very easy to train. At that stage, they don’t have any bad habits.

Older horses, they run on their class and heart, and they love what they’re doing.”

There’s old … and then there’s really old. Jacobson said he once saw a 13-year-old horse race in Kentucky. Last year, a 15-year-old horse named Hermosilla made his 83rd start at Wyoming Downs. According to recent records, the oldest horse ever to win a race was 14-year-old Alpena Magic, who won a claiming race at Indiana Downs on May 27, 2004.

“Seeing them compete, try hard, and win with the young kids, it’s great,” said Jacobson. “It’s like anything – if you love your job, you’ll be good at it. And these old-timers, they love their jobs.”