Severe Storm Forces River Downs to Cancel Races

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Edited press release
A severe mid-afternoon thunderstorm led officials to cancel live racing after six races at River Downs July 4 because of safety concerns.

"We had a conversation with the jockeys and the horsemen, and for the safety of everyone involved with the lightning in the area that didn't look like it was passing, we decided to cancel the last three races," state steward Herb Clark said.

The horses had just left the paddock for the seventh race at the Cincinnati, Ohio, track when rain intensified quickly and a sudden lightning strike hit in the infield just behind the tote board, which subsequently malfunctioned. The riders immediately returned to the covered saddling area and met with official shortly thereafter.

Due to the cancellation of racing, the second half of the Tri-Super wager wasn't contested in the eighth race. Anyone holding a winning ticket on the first half (contested in the fifth race) will split the amount bet into the July 4 pool.

River Downs resumes live racing July 6 with a rare 11-race program with first post time of 1 p.m. EDT. The track is open every day for full-card simulcasts.

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