Fair Grounds cancels Friday card due to rain

NEW ORLEANS – A punishing rainstorm caused Fair Grounds to cancel its Friday card in an attempt to have the main track in optimum shape for racing Saturday, when the Louisiana Derby highlights a card that includes four Grade 2 stakes.

The cancellation was announced about an hour before first post. It rained hard late in the morning, and there was considerable standing water just inside the inner turf course rail. The forecast was for more rain throughout the day, but the storm showers are supposed to end Friday night.