by Pat McKenna
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has moved Saturday’s 11-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack to Sunday and pushed Sunday’s 10-race program to Wednesday due to torrential rainfall causing widespread flooding and hazardous conditions in the New York metropolitan area.
Friday’s 11-race card was canceled with more than five inches of rain expected and Ozone Park under a flash flood warning and flood watch on Friday. Heavy rainfall will continue throughout Friday and into Saturday.
Saturday’s card, headlined by the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, will move in its entirety to Sunday with a first post time of 12:05 p.m. Eastern. The lucrative 11-race program also features the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward, the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom and the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The 10-race card originally scheduled for Sunday will move in its entirety to Wednesday with a first post time of 1:05 p.m. Wednesday’s action is co-headlined by a pair of Grade 2 “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The $200,000 Pilgrim awards a berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf while the $200,000 Miss Grillo for fillies awards a berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting on Friday and Saturday, and online wagering is available through www.NYRABets.com.
For additional information on the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, as well as a complete stakes schedule, visit NYRA.com.