Belmont cancels final-day card due to weather

Belmont Park has canceled racing for Sunday, the final day of its fall meet, due to expected heavy rain and windy conditions.

There was a two-day pick-six carryover of $70,977 going into the Sunday card, which would have had a mandatory payout to bettors selecting the most winners in the sequence, even if nobody picked all six.

The New York Racing Association has submitted a request to the New York State Gaming Commission to move the carryover to opening day of the Aqueduct meet Friday.

According to Lee Park, the director of communications for the NYSGC, the commission is expected to discuss NYRA's request Monday.

Park confirmed that the New York rules of racing state the carryover be held back until opening day of the Belmont 2018 spring meet.

If NYRA's gaming-commission request is approved, the Friday pick-six pool will have a mandatory payout, just as it would have had on Belmont's closing day.

Two stakes were scheduled for Sunday: the $100,000 Chelsey Flower, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies, and the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

The Chelsey Flower has been redrawn and will be part of next Saturday's card at Aqueduct. The Pumpkin Pie has been rescheduled for Sunday.
Belmont Park and Aqueduct will be open for simulcast wagering Sunday.

Chad Brown won the Belmont fall meet training title with what is believed to be a record 41 wins. Irad Ortiz Jr. was the leading rider with 51 victories.