NYRA cancels Thursday card ahead of winter storm

The forecast for a winter storm that could bring six to 10 inches of snow to the New York City area prompted the New York Racing Association to cancel Thursday’s eight-race program at Aqueduct.

NYRA announced the cancellation on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, NYRA officials announced that Aqueduct would not be open for simulcasting as originally planned.The storm knocked out power for a little while early Thursday morning as the racing office tried to take entries for Sunday's card.

Despite 60-degree temperatures Wednesday, snow was scheduled to start at around 5 a.m. Thursday and last throughout most of the afternoon. Winds were forecast to be 25 miles an hour, with gusts between 35 and 40 mph.

There were only eight races with a total of 49 horses entered for Thursday’s card. Some of those races will be brought back as early as Sunday.

Thursday marks the fourth cancellation of Aqueduct’s inner-track meet. Live racing is scheduled to resume Friday with an eight-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.