Aqueduct resumes racing

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Aqueduct was operating as normal Friday, one day after a severed cable forced the track to cancel its live racing program and simulcast operations.

According to New York Racing Association officials, a major communications cable, known as a 600-pair wire - which consists of 1,200 small wires - that ran from Rockaway Blvd. to Aqueduct was accidentally severed on Thursday by a construction crew working on the casino being built at the track. The disconnection forced NYRA to lose communication with its tote companies while also knocking out some television operations, including replays to which stewards are required to have access.

According to Ken Cook, NYRA's vice president for security, Aqueduct was able to race Friday because it moved part of its tote operations - those that handle wagers from offtrack sites - to nearby Belmont Park. Aqueduct was able to handle tote operations from wagers placed ontrack.

Also, new fiber-optic cables were run to the three camera towers that were affected by the severed cable, so that races and replays could be shown.

Cook also said that the 75 percent of the severed cable was fixed by early Friday and that the entire cable was to be repaired by the end of Friday.

Also, Cook said NYRA will be reimbursed for lost revenue from Thursday from the construction companies - which are required to have insurance - that caused the problem.