No additional moisture is expected in the Northern Kentucky area until late in the day March 1, but fog has hindered the drying-out process. The problems began in mid-February with a freeze and thaw.The March 1 program is scheduled to feature the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds and the $50,000 Valdale Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Battaglia is a prep for the March 22 Lane's End Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep.Turfway raced Feb. 26 but lost the previous nine programs because of weather and track conditions. The track will race Monday afternoons in March to make up for lost opportunities.
Turfway Park has canceled live racing for the evening of Feb. 28 but hopes to get its racing surface ready for March 1, when two stakes are scheduled.On Feb. 27, live racing was halted after the first race because of unsuitable track conditions. As of the morning of Feb. 28, the surface still needed work, so management decided to begin in earnest right after training hours.Turfway president Bob Elliston said the track crew would be on the scene continually in an effort to push water out and create a firmer surface for the next program scheduled for March 1. "That's 100% the plan," he said.
