De Francis Memorial Dash Postponed to Sept. 22

With poor weather conditions expected in the area this weekend because of Hurricane Florence, the Maryland Jockey Club announced its scheduled Sept. 15 stakes program at Laurel Park—highlighted by the De Francis Memorial Dash (G3)—has been rescheduled to Sept. 22.

The seven stakes moved to Sept. 22 also include the Laurel Futurity, Laurel Dash, The All Along Stakes, the Selima, and Laurel Turf Cup. Three of those races are part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship series, which will award points for those races on their new date. 

Sal Sinatra, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club, said Sept. 10 that nominations to all seven stakes races will be reopened through Sept. 12 at midnight.

Five stakes restricted to Virginia-breds, originally scheduled for Sept. 22, now will be run Sunday, Sept. 23. First race post time Saturday will be 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Sinatra said Laurel is scheduled to run its regular races this weekend, "but we will continue monitoring Hurricane Florence."

"We believe it's in the best interest of everyone to move the races," he said. "With the MATCH series races and the De Francis, we're hoping everyone can breeze this week and then, hopefully, have a great day and fast track the following Saturday. We also reopened nominations through Wednesday for those who said previously the races were coming up a little too soon."