Winter Weather Continues to Impact Racing

Aqueduct Racetrack in New York has canceled live racing March 6 due to the impact of winter weather on the racing surface and aggressive efforts to get the track ready for the March 7 program highlighted by the $400,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III).

Meanwhile, Laurel Park in Maryland scrapped its live program for March 6 after a winter storm dropped six inches of snow and sent temperatures to record lows.

"With temperatures expected to begin rising today, moisture within the track surface due to this week's buildup of rain, freezing rain, ice, and more than six inches of snow will begin to release," the New York Racing Association said of the Aqueduct cancellation. "As an aggressive and proactive step, the decision was made to cancel live racing for today with maintenance crews continuing to remove moisture from the track in preparation for this weekend's card."

Multiple graded stakes winner El Kabeir, most recently second in the Withers Stakes (gr. II), tops the field for the $400,000 Gotham. There is a $148,147 Pick 6 carryover going into Saturday's card.

NYRA said there would be limited training Friday morning at Aqueduct and Belmont Park and that both facilities would be open for simulcasting. The cancellation is the 16th at Aqueduct since Jan. 1.

In Maryland, the March 6 cancellation was the seventh at Laurel since Feb. 19.

"It has been a tough winter," Maryland Jockey Club general manager Sal Sinatra said. "We've seen everything this winter. There has been freeze, thaw, ice, unsafe conditions. Today we're trying to clear the track from snow.

"We haven't had the water truck on the track since the middle of November. I asked the driver if he's checked to see if it still runs."

With high temperatures projected to be in the 40s the weekend of March 6-7, Laurel anticipates live racing will be offered.