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Aqueduct Archive

Aqueduct Cancels Friday

With rain continuing to fall in New York, NYRA has decided to cancel today’s racing at Aqueduct to keep the main track sealed and in condition for the Wood Memorial day card:

“The main track is tight, in good shape, but factoring in that it only opened for racing two days ago and that we have Aqueduct’s best day of racing tomorrow, we are doing everything we can to ensure optimum racing conditions for our big Wood Memorial Day card,” New York Racing Association Racing Secretary and Handicapper P.J. Campo said. “The track is sealed so moisture doesn’t soak in. We’re confident that our cautious approach today will result in excellent racing conditions tomorrow.”

Rain is forecast through Saturday morning in Ozone Park, with clouds lingering through the afternoon.
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Owner Robert LaPenta has a new theory explaining War Pass’ performance in the Tampa Bay Derby, reports Paul Moran on ESPN:

“We all saw him at the top of the stretch, struggling,” LaPenta said. “That was not the horse we saw three weeks earlier that basically cruised to [a mile in] 1:36 and came into the winners’ circle without even breathing heavy. That was a horse that at the top of the stretch was in distress. I guess the most plausible explanation is that he flipped his palate. We scoped him after the race. There was no congestion. There were no issues. But for a horse to be in that much distress, I’d only have to say that that, to me, is the most probable explanation.”

War Pass is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the Wood.

Posted in Aqueduct, Racing on April 4, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby

NY Going Synthetic?

– “Hayward said he would also like to get horsemen involved in discussions over the possible use of synthetic surfaces for either training or racing. Hayward said a prime candidate would be Aqueduct’s main track, which has been plagued by problems the last few years” (DRF).
– Play of the day, at 3-1 or better: AQU, R4, Candy for Edda. [Results: Ouch. Off at 7-2, ran last throughout.]

Posted in Aqueduct on February 16, 2008

Big A Cancels Wednesday

Heavy rain forces Aqueduct cancellation; racing is expected to resume on Thursday when the weather improves and NYRA’s franchise is extended.
Update: Here’s the final NYRA bill. An announcement of a done deal is expected later this afternoon.
Finally: It’s settled. NYRA gets a 25-year contract, the state gets ownership of the land, and racing continues. Paul Moran breaks down the details.

Posted in Aqueduct on February 13, 2008

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