06/22/2012 3:55PM

Belmont Park: Five races canceled due to power outage

By David Grening
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 ELMONT, N.Y. - Belmont Park canceled the final five races of Friday’s card due to power issues as a result of a strong storm that ripped through the area following the fourth race.

The power issues didn’t totally disable the track as simulcasting operations were able to continue.

According to New York Racing Association officials, the production truck that distributes the Belmont signal lost power. Also, the cameras the stewards use were disabled by the power outage, which by itself would have triggered a cancellation.

NYRA utilizes a different truck to bring in signals from other tracks which is why Belmont was able to remain open for simulcasting.

Refunds were issued in the pick six while live daily double, pick three, and pick four tickets were paid out on the contested legs with the canceled legs considered all wins on those tickets.

This cancellation came one day after Belmont canceled Thursday’s nine-race card due to extreme heat.

Belmont was scheduled to re-open on Saturday with an 11-race card that includes the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes.

W.G. More than 1 year ago
This was something NYRA couldn't do anything about, nor could anyone else. There were lightning strikes all over the place during that storm, including one that damaged the 1 1/8 Mile pole on the clubhouse turn as can be seen at: http://www.rightnow.io/breaking-news/belmont-park_bn_1340393153318.html Lightning and/or strong winds likely knocked out the power lines to the cameras and the stewards stand, making it impossible for racing to continue. People forget it could have been a lot worse.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
I stand by my original comment. Haters gonna hate, as they say, but it seems like over here the haters will just hate on everything NYRA regardless of whether or not they can control it, like the weather.
John Stevelberg More than 1 year ago
A really safe statement would be to point out that NYRA has NEVER EVER won any award for management effeciency and let it go at that !
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Let me guess: people commenting will now be speculating that it's all NYRA's fault they had a thunderstorm.
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
Yeah Man, It's a conspiracy!!!
OblivionSuckers More than 1 year ago
If NYRA's physical plant is inadequate to sustain operations or at least restart operations after a transient thunderstorm, perhaps they should consider firing half of their bloated bureaucracy and useless commentators and spending the savings on infrastructure upgrades. They are simply pathetic, grossly inadequate fools. One other example: On Belmont Stakes day, there were massive lines of people waiting to use the handful of functioning ATMs at Belmont. This has gone on for years. I.e., NYRA's customers WANTED to spend money. Yet somehow the peons at NYRA never contemplate getting more ATMs on site for Belmont day, or at least maintaining and refilling the ATMs that they have. They actually thwarted their CUSTOMERS from spending money. The lines were literally 60+ deep, and would have been longer if others were not discouraged by the length of the existing lines. There were also many nonfunctional wagering terminals. What kind of real business would EVER let this happen? If this was allowed to happen in a casino or shopping mall, people would be fired immediately.
thomas j More than 1 year ago
You are right. In private industry, employees with these responsibilites would be fired. Or in the very least be suspended WITHOUT pay and benefits for "an attention-getting" period. I know. I've been on both sides of something like this in private industry.