Arlington Million, maybe NYRA turf stakes will go Sunday

Colonial Downs moved its Arlington Million day card from Saturday to Sunday, and Saratoga could do the same with its graded stakes.

Colonial said in a news release that that decision to reschedule the biggest day in Virginia’s horse-racing history was made carefully after working closely with weather experts to predict the risk of heavy rain and potential impact caused by tropical storm Debby.

Noting that most of the extreme weather conditions are expected to clear the area by Saturday, Colonial said the safety of team members, the community and horsemen traveling to compete was the highest priority in the decision to delay the planned festivities.

Additional recovery time for racetrack surfaces will make it possible to run the entire race card, which includes seven stakes races highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Beverly D. (G2) and Secretariat Stakes (G2).

Rain was in the National Weather Service forecast for New Kent County, Va., through Friday night. Saturday was forecast to be mostly sunny with a high near 86, and Sunday's forecast is for a mostly sunny day and a high of 84.

The New York Racing Association said in a release that with heavy rain associated with the tropical storm Debby forecast to impact Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Friday and Saturday, it added the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) and Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) as contingency races for Sunday.

If weather forces races off the turf on Saturday, then NYRA will aim to run the Fourstardave and Saratoga Derby as the final two races on Sunday. To allow for increased flexibility, those races will fall outside of all horizontal wagers.