Penn National cancels Penn Mile because of coronavirus pandemic

The $500,000 Penn Mile and a host of undercard stakes at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Penn., have become the latest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Penn National announced the cancellation of the Grade 2 race on Thursday, along with the cancellation of the $200,000 Penn Oaks, the $100,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup, and the $100,000 7 Forty 3 Stakes. The races were all scheduled to be run on May 30.

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Penn National has been shuttered since March 14 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The track has not announced any plans to reopen, as state government officials weigh options for restarting the state’s economy in a gradual manner.

The Penn Mile card is easily the most popular card presented by Penn National all year. The track’s single-day handle record of $3.8 million was set on Penn Mile Day in 2015, and the other four highest-handling days were all Penn Mile cards.

The May 30 card this year also included four stakes for Pennsylvania-bred horses. Those stakes will be rescheduled for a later date, Penn National said.