Aqueduct cancels Thursday racing

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Aqueduct canceled Thursday’s live racing program after track superintendent Glen Kozak told New York Racing Association officials that he needed more time to get the track in better condition following Tuesday’s winter storm.

It was the second straight card that was canceled and sixth of the winter meet.

Aqueduct and Belmont Park were to be open for simulcasting on Thursday.

According to Bruce Johnstone, NYRA’s manager of racing operations, Kozak added some material to the inner track on Monday, but was not able to distribute it in the manner he wanted prior to Tuesday’s storm.

"It sounds like Glen feels they need to level it out better," Johnstone said. "They added a lot of material to it on Monday, but it’s just not in the condition he wants to race over it. It’s a matter of being able to manicure it properly."

After being closed two days for training, Aqueduct’s inner track was open for training on Thursday.

With dry weather in the forecast for Thursday and Friday, it is expected that Aqueduct will open for live racing on Friday. There will be a pick-six carryover of $95,515 entering Friday’s card after the wager went unhit last weekend.