(compiled from track reports)
For the second day in a row Sunday, a powerful winter storm in the eastern portion of the country forced cancellation of live racing at Aqueduct, Laurel Park and Turfway Park.Turfway officials announced that the northern Kentucky track's simulcast facility would remain open Sunday. It is scheduled to resume live racing on Wednesday.Simulcasting facilities are also open at Laurel and its sister track Pimlico. A total of five inches of snow hit the central Maryland area Saturday and the forecast for the area Sunday remained grim, with temperatures in the low 20s and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour."The combination of the drifting snow and the gusty winds makes it impossible for us to run," said Lou Raffetto, chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club. It was the second straight day that the opening of the Laurel winter meet has been called off. It is now scheduled to begin on Wednesday with an eight-race card. Aqueduct announced Saturday that it would remain dark for both live racing and simulcasting through Sunday. Live racing is set to resume Wednesday.Philadelphia Park was also forced to cancel its weekend racing card. It hopes to resume action on Monday.
Residents dig out as a blizzard dumps some two feet of snow in some areas of the Midwest and Northeast.
