Oaklawn cancels Thursday card

Oaklawn Park has made the decision to cancel its Thursday card because of

weather, but will remain open for simulcast racing and gaming.

After a picture-perfect weekend with a high of 70 degrees Saturday, nearly

three inches of rain fell between Monday night and Tuesday and temperatures

dropped by over 50 degrees. Temperatures ranged around 28 degrees Wednesday

afternoon and were not expected to move above 32 degrees until Friday.

"Between the rain and freezing temperatures, it is just impossible for our

track maintenance crew to prepare the track for racing Thursday," Assistant

General Manger of Racing David Longinotti said. "We met with horsemen

representatives and the stewards and everyone was in agreement that this was the

right thing to do. We hope to be able to make a call tomorrow about Friday and

will be working diligently to have the track ready at least for Saturday and

Sunday."

Live racing is scheduled to resume Friday with a 1:30 p.m. (CST) first post.

The Saturday feature is the $100,000 Essex H. for older horses going 1 1/16

miles.