Charles Town, Laurel Cancel Live Racing for Nov. 15
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Because of the impact of winter weather moving through the area, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has cancelled its live racing program scheduled Nov. 15.
The property will remain open for simulcasting with live racing scheduled to resume Nov. 16, with a first post of 7 p.m. EST.
An early arrival of winter also forced the cancellation of Thursday's nine-race program at Laurel Park and an eight-race card at Hollywood Gaming at Penn National Race Course that had been scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m.
At Laurel, 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% chance of rain into Nov. 16.
"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 beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Also Thursday, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) canceled the final three scheduled races on the card at Aqueduct Racetrack because of accumulating snow on the Big A main track. With the National Weather Service calling for heavy snow and poor visibility throughout the afternoon in the New York Metropolitan area, racing was cancelled following the day's sixth race.
The Belmont Cafe and Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting and online wagering is available through NYRA Bets.
Live racing is scheduled to resume Friday, Nov. 16 at Aqueduct with a 9-race card. First-race post time is 12:20 p.m.