With bad weather coming, Evangeline cancels Saturday night card

Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., has canceled Saturday night’s program that included the $50,000 John Henry Stakes, according to director of racing Chris Warren.

Warren said the John Henry, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that drew Grade 3 winner Mocito Rojo, would be brought back for July 20.

The decision to call off Saturday's races was made Thursday night in order to give patrons and horsemen ample notice of the cancellation, said Warren. He said the call was made due to a forecast for extreme weather. There is a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico and some outlets are predicting it will develop into a hurricane by Friday.

“They’re predicting a lot of bad weather Saturday afternoon,” said Warren.

The Opelousas area is under a flash flood warning through Saturday night.

Evangeline is scheduled to race Thursday night and plans call for racing Friday night, too. The card Friday night features the $50,000 Opelousas Stakes.

Entries for the John Henry, which was brought back as an extra, will be taken Friday.