NYRA, still feeling impact of winter, delays start of Aqueduct turf racing two weeks

The New York Racing Association is still feeling the impact of the harsh winter as it announced Sunday the start of turf racing at Aqueduct has been pushed back two weeks.

NYRA, in a press release, cited that due to the impact of heavy snowfall in January and February, combined with continued cold overnight temperatures in March, said it must delay the start of turf racing from April 3 to April 16.

As June 28 is the final day of racing at Aqueduct, NYRA was hoping to utilize Aqueduct’s two turf courses plenty over the next three months. But the New York metropolitan area was hit with two significant snowstorms - one in January and one in February - as well as brutally cold temperatures in late January and February. March has seen a roller coaster in temperatures with recent nights where the overnight low is below freezing.

Among the first scheduled turf races of the year was the Plenty of Grace Stakes for older females at one mile on the April 4 Wood Memorial card. That race will now be run on April 17. Nominations for the Plenty of Grace, which were scheduled to close Saturday will remain open until April 4.

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