Winter storm forces Aqueduct to cancel Wednesday racing

A winter storm that brought between 8 and 14 inches of snow to the New York metropolitan area before ending late Tuesday morning forced New York Racing Association officials to cancel Wednesday’s card at Aqueduct.

It is the sixth full-card cancellation of the meet – all since Jan. 7. Another card was scrapped after two races were run.

As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, snowfall amounts at John F. Kennedy Airport, across the highway from Aqueduct, totaled 8.6 inches, according to the National Weather Service. However, snowfall amounts in and around Belmont Park – where the majority of horses who race at Aqueduct are based – were over a foot.

Moreover, the forecast for Wednesday called for temperatures in the low 30s with wind chills between 0 and 10 degrees due to winds forecast between 15 and 25 mph.

Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting on Wednesday though Belmont Park will not.

Officials hope live racing can resume Thursday with an eight-race card scheduled to start at 1:20 p.m. Eastern.