Track cancellations continue
The winter blast which has affected most of the eastern half of the country
resulted in more track cancellations for Thursday and Friday.
Due to moisture in the track from Tuesday’s storm, Aqueduct officials were
forced to cancel live
racing on Thursday, while Oaklawn Park had called off its program one day
earlier. The latter track announced Thursday that Friday’s card would have to be
scrapped as well.
It’s the second straight cancellation and the sixth since
the inner-track meet began in early December at Aqueduct. Track superintendent Glen Kozak and his crew worked Thursday to have the
inner oval ready for optimal racing conditions on Friday. Aqueduct and the Belmont Cafe
remained open for simulcasting.
In Hot Springs, temperatures at or below freezing since Tuesday has left the
track unsuitable for racing. Oaklawn also remains open for simulcast racing.
Oaklawn officials, horsemen representatives and the stewards met at 11 a.m.
(CST) and made the unanimous decision to cancel, which marks the fourth
weather-related cancellation of the meet.
“There were several factors that played into our decision to cancel for a
second straight day, but the main reason is the frozen track,” Assistant General
Manager of Racing David Longinotti explained. “We are going to make every effort
to race Saturday and Sunday. However, we need to be able to protect our track
for the entire racing season and maintain the safest racing surface possible.”
Oaklawn officials are hopeful that live racing will be held Saturday and
Sunday. The Saturday card will feature the $100,000 Essex S. for older horses
going 1 1/16 miles.
Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana, also canceled live racing on Thursday due
to the weather.