With another 10 to 20 inches of snow expected in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas by the evening of Feb. 9, the Maryland Jockey Club has cancelled live racing at Laurel Park for Wednesday, Feb. 10 and Thursday, Feb. 11.
A winter storm warning has been posted from noon Feb. 9 through 7 p.m. Feb. 10. Thirty-two inches of snow was recorded at Laurel Park Feb. 5-6, forcing those cards to be cancelled.
Snow also forced Laurel officials to call off the Jan. 30 program, meaning five of the first 24 days of the winter meeting have now been cancelled because of inclement weather.
According to a Maryland Jockey Club release, the last time Laurel cancelled as many as five days of live racing during a stand was in 2003 when snow caused five cards to be cancelled during the month of February.
The racing office will take entries for both the Feb. 13 and Feb. 15 cards Feb. 11. The Feb. 13 card features the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) and the John Campbell Handicap. The Feb. 15 program is headlined by the General George Handicap (gr. II) and the Marshua Stakes.
Laurel and Pimlico Race Course will be open for simulcasting Feb. 9.
The impending storm, which is expected to affect much of the Northeastern region, also prompted Beulah Park to cancel its Feb. 9 and 10 cards, and Aqueduct and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course to shut down racing on Feb. 10.