Final four Friday races canceled due to stormy weather

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The final four races of Friday’s card at Saratoga were canceled due to weather conditions that included rain, thunder, and lightning.

The announcement of the cancellation came when horses were in the paddock for the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes. That race, for 3-year-olds on turf, will be rescheduled for Aug. 11.

Early morning rains forced the New York Racing Association to move four of the six scheduled turf races to the dirt. The Grade 3, $400,000 Saratoga Oaks was run over a soft outer turf course. The race was won by Elusive Princess.

The cancellation prompted several wagers to be refunded, including the Friday pick six and a two-day pick six that was scheduled to start with the Hall of Fame Stakes and include five races on Saturday’s card. The late pick five that began on race 7 was also refunded.

More than $2 million in wagers had to be refunded, according to Equibase.

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The pick four that started in race 5 and the pick five that began in race 4 were both scheduled to end with race 8, the Hall of Fame Stakes. That race was declared an all-win for those two wagers.

There were consolation payouts for the pick three that started on race 6 and the daily double that began in race 7.

Racing was scheduled to resume Saturday with a 12-race card that includes the Grade 1 Whitney, Grade 1 Test, and Grade 1 Saratoga Derby. First post is 12:35 p.m.

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