Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Unusually cold weather has forced
Churchill Downs to cancel Wednesday’s racing program.
Churchill Downs’ main track is frozen which precipitated Tuesday training to
be canceled. Track officials have determined that track conditions will not
improve enough before racing Wednesday, so the decision was made to cancel
the racing card.
“Our top priority on any day at Churchill Downs is the health and safety of
the human and equine participants in our sport, and current conditions and our
short-term forecast have convinced us that it is in the best interests of all
participants that we cancel the live racing program scheduled for Wednesday,”
said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “We’re dealing
with unusual weather conditions and the combination of moisture in our track
with the rapid drop in temperatures and wind chill readings have resulted in a
track surface that is unsafe for horses and humans, and there appears to be
little chance of significant improvement until well into the day on
Wednesday.”
Flanery said that work will continue on the main track in order to have it
ready for racing on Thursday. Temperatures are forecast to climb above
freezing Wednesday afternoon.