Aqueduct adds a Wednesday card to make up for cancellation

The New York Racing Association is adding a day of live racing on Wednesday, April 23, as part of the spring meet at Aqueduct.

After the cancellation of live racing on Sunday, March 30, NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and New York Thoroughbred Breeders requested and have received formal approval from the New York State Gaming Commission to conduct live racing on April 23 at Aqueduct.

Loud music from a sound system at the adjacent casino forced NYRA officials to cancel racing at Aqueduct on march 30.

It was the second time in less than six months that a sensory distraction from the casino put a stop to racing at Aqueduct. An Oct. 11 project to treat the casino roof with a chemical product caused an overpowering, noxious smell that forced racing officials to abandon their positions on the upper floors of the racetrack. Racing was called off that day, and NYRA set up industrial fans that night to ventilate its building in time for racing the following day.

The Aqueduct spring meet, which features 13 stakes worth $2.8 million in total purses, continues through Sunday, April 27.