With a storm that is expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow in the
Baltimore-Washington D.C. region over the next two days, the Maryland Jockey
Club has canceled live racing at Laurel Park for Friday and Saturday.
There will be simulcasting at Laurel and its sister
track, Pimlico, on Friday afternoon but not Saturday.
Saturday’s $70,000 Marshua S. will now be
contested on February 15 as part of a card that is headlined by the General George
H. (G2).
The Laurel racing office took entries Friday for
next Wednesday’s card and will not work on Thursday’s program until Monday.
Entries for Thursday had been scheduled to close Saturday.
Penn National has also canceled both of its Friday and Saturday night cards as weather
reports call for the winter storm to drop between one and two feet of snow
in many parts of the Mid-Atlantic region.
“Based on all the weather models, this was the prudent decision to make in
consideration of our fans and horsemen,” Director of Racing Rob Marella
said.
“The snow is expected to arrive here Friday afternoon and not end until midday
Saturday. The shippers won’t have to worry about getting on the road.”
Marella said the two-day cancellation will enable local horsemen, and those that
ship into Penn National, to re-enter their horses as quickly as possible. The
Friday night card has been scuttled, while Saturday’s program will be brought
back in its entirety for Thursday night.
Full-card simulcasting will end early on Friday, but Marella expects a full day of simulcasting for Saturday.
In addition to to Laurel and Penn National, Beulah Park and Charles Town have also canceled
their Friday and Saturday cards. Philadelphia Park has called off Saturday live
racing.