Laurel Park cancels Thursday card

by | Nov 15, 2018 | Breaking, Maryland, MD Racing, Racing

File photo by Laurie Asseo.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

An early arrival of winter forced the cancellation of Thursday’s nine-race program at Laurel Park.

Horses were at the gate for the first race when the decision was made to cancel racing due to deteriorating weather conditions from Winter Storm Avery.

Early morning snow turned to sleet and freezing rain by afternoon with temperatures in the mid-30s and a wind chill in the mid-20s. The forecast called for a 100 percent chance of rain into Friday.

“The weather turned worse as the day went on with the sleet and ice, and with the safety of our horses and horsemen in mind, we felt it was in everyone’s best interests to cancel,” Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra said.

All wagers from races 1 through 9 were refunded. Laurel will remain open for simulcasting including its planned seven-race LARC simulcast from Monterrico, Peru which has a scheduled post time of 5 p.m.

Live racing is scheduled to return to Laurel with a nine-race program Friday, Nov. 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m.