Belmont Park canceled live horse racing for this Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 26 and 27) because of a strengthening nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding to Long Island and the New York metro area.
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the decision today.
A wind advisory was in effect from Friday afternoon through early Sunday, and a coastal flood warning covered Friday evening through Sunday evening. Rain was expected to begin Friday evening, with the worst conditions over the weekend. Track Officials cited safety concerns for horses, riders, and fans, as well as likely poor horse racing news on the weather conditions on both turf and dirt.
This comes just a week after the newly rebuilt Belmont Park reopened following a multi-year, roughly $550 million renovation.
All six graded stakes originally scheduled for the weekend were shifted to Thursday -- Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), Flower Bowl Stakes (G2), Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2), Vosburgh Stakes (G3), Belmont Turf Sprint (G3), and the Winter Memories Stakes (G3).
The Flower Bowl is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” event for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the Vosburgh Stakes secures the winner a spot in the gate for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Overnight (non-stakes) races from Saturday and Sunday were moved to Wednesday.
The Joseph A. Gimma Stakes, originally set for Thursday, was moved to Friday, with entries taken Saturday.
To replace the two lost days, NYRA added racing on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and the following Wednesday, Oct. 7. Combined with previously scheduled makeup dates of Oct. 14, 21, and 28, Belmont will now race Wednesday through Sunday throughout October.
The fall meet at the new Belmont Park runs through Dec. 6.
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