Laurel Park cancels Sunday card, will race Friday

Laurel Park canceled its Sunday card on Saturday morning as dangerously low temperatures, high winds, and snow were forecast for Saturday evening.

Temperatures in the single digits were predicted for Sunday morning, and winds were expected to be in the 20 mph range, with gusts up to 50 mph possible.

This is winter carnival weekend at Laurel, with three stakes carded for both Saturday and Monday. There were no stakes on the Sunday card.

Since Laurel is racing on Presidents Day, the track was scheduled to be dark Friday. Because of the Sunday cancellation, Laurel will now race Friday, according to Sal Sinatra, general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. The canceled Sunday program will be brought back on Friday as originally drawn.

"To protect the horses and riders, we canceled Sunday," Sinatra said. "We believe it is in everyone's best interest."

Monday's card is topped by the Grade 3, $250,000 General George Handicap and two $100,000 undercard stakes for 3-year-olds, the Miracle Wood and the Wide Country. Although cold temperatures are again in the forecast, Sinatra was confident Saturday morning the Monday card would be held.