New York horsemen remember Clément at Monday ceremony

The New York Racing Association held a moment of silence Monday in memory of trainer Christophe Clément, who died over the weekend after suffering from a rare cancer.

A group of horsemen and friends gathered in the winners' circle to honor Clément after Monday's second race at Aqueduct.

Though Clément was born in France, he spent most of his career training in the United States. He put down deep roots in New York, and was a regular on the New York circuit since he opened his stateside barn.

Out of 41 career Grade 1 wins, 22 came at tracks located in New York. That included his one win in a 3-year-old classic, with Tonalist in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. Clément's first victory came in 1991 with his first-ever starter: Spectaculaire, who won a maiden special weight on the Belmont lawn. His final victory came in the state as well. That happened last Monday in a maiden special weight at Finger Lakes with Burn Notice, a son of Tonalist.