East Coast Blizzard Cancels Laurel, Aqueduct

Blizzard-like conditions in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area wiped out racing at Laurel Park for the entire Presidents' Day weekend, forcing the Maryland Jockey Club to reschedule the winter meeting's two major stakes this Saturday.

The $200,000 Barbara Fritchie (gr. II) and the $200,000 General George (gr. III) handicaps will be run as part of Saturday's card. Entries will be re-drawn for the two big races on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition, the Xtra Heat bobblehead giveaway and jockey Ryan Fogelsonger salute have been shifted to Saturday's lineup.

A third stakes race, the $100,000 John B. Campbell Handicap, which was canceled Sunday, will highlight a 10-race card next Sunday. The draw for that card will take place on Thursday.

The Maryland tracks are dark on Tuesday's during the winter, but racing officials are hopeful to have training available at Laurel, Pimlico and the Bowie Training Center. The next live racing card is scheduled Thursday.

Racing at Aqueduct Park was canceled after the first race on Sunday and Monday. Officials hoped to run Monday's Presidents' Day card on Wednesday instead.

The entry schedule has also been altered due to the storm. Entries for Thursday's racing card at the Big A will now be taken on Tuesday.

First post time on Wednesday at Aqueduct is 12:30 p.m. EST.

Officials advised that Friday entries will be drawn on Wednesday. The $75,000 Hollie Hughes Handicap, which was to be run on Sunday, has been rescheduled to Feb. 23. It will be reopened to original nominations and redrawn.