Jockeys declare track unsafe; Charles Town cancels 5 races

Sloppy conditions were too much for jockeys who called a halt to the Saturday night card at Charles Town, where the last five races including one stakes were scrubbed.

“After the first three races were run without incident over a track labeled sloppy, riders decided in the interests of safety not to continue with the card,” a track spokesperson said in a news release Saturday night.

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Polish the Diamond, a 3-year-old filly who led from gate to wire to win the 6 1/2-furlong third race, appeared on a video replay to stagger away from the rail under jockey Reshawn Latchman as she straightened out of the second turn.

A notice was posted on the track’s TV feed before 8:30 p.m. EDT saying the rest of the card was canceled “due to heavy rain.”

There was no immediate announcement about what would happen to the $75,000 Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes, a 4 1/2-furlong sprint for West Virginia-bred 2-year-olds. There were 10 entries, including three colts, four geldings and three fillies. Three of the horses were scratched before the suspension of racing.

Rain from tropical storm Ophelia hit Charles Town, W.Va., before dawn Saturday and intensified during the afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service recorded 0.98 inches of rain Saturday at the Martinsburg, W.Va., airport 10 miles northwest of the track.

The storm forced the cancellation of entire race cards Saturday at Belmont at Aqueduct, Pimlico, Delaware Park and the Meadowlands.

Parx Racing got in all 14 races on its Pennsylvania Derby (G1) card in spite of the heavy rain and strong wind, although one of the two turf races was moved to the main track. There were no reports of mishaps or injuries. The 2-year-old filly Mygirlisabomb was reported in the Equibase chart to have bled through her nose during her maiden race.

According to its news release, Charles Town will resume live racing as scheduled Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT.