Wind, rain force cancellation of closing-day card at Belmont

Belmont Park was forced to cancel the balance of its closing day card after the first race Sunday due to high winds and heavy rains. There were three stakes on the program and those races have been rescheduled, while track officials are looking to move the scheduled mandatory payout in the Empire 6 to Aqueduct, which opens its meet Friday.

The Chelsey Flower and Zagora will be held next Sunday at Aqueduct, with entries for those races to be taken Thursday.

The Pumpkin Pie will be run Nov. 9 at Aqueduct. Entries are Nov. 6.

There was a jackpot carryover of $279,432 in the Empire 6, which had a mandatory payout for Sunday, and officials will seek New York State Gaming Commission approval to hold it at Aqueduct on Friday. A similar situation arose two years ago and approvals were granted by the NYSGC.

New York Racing Association officials said in a press release continued rain and additional wind gusts of up to 34 miles are forecast for later in the day and the decision to cancel was made in the interest of safety.

-additional reporting by David Grening