Colonial, Delaware, Charles Town cancel Friday cards due to air quality

Colonial Downs, Delaware Park, and Charles Town have all canceled their Friday cards because of poor air quality, as smoke from wildfires in Ontario continue to impact the East Coast.

Colonial was the last to announce its cancellation Friday afternoon, citing “decreasing air quality.” The track has moved up its Saturday card to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Delaware announced it will move its entire Friday card to Tuesday, specifically citing an “elevated air quality index.” The track also canceled racing on Wednesday and has lost at least one race day in each of the last three weeks.

Charles Town, which originally moved its first post to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, reversed course and canceled the card after the air quality index in West Virginia increased beyond 200, a level designated as “very unhealthy.”

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