Keeneland cancels last four races Friday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The last four races on the opening-day card of the Keeneland spring meet were canceled Friday after a second round of heavy rain pounded this track amid a tornado watch and lightning strikes.

The first six of 10 races were run without incident, albeit over a track left sloppy by four inches of rain that hit the track overnight and into Friday morning. Track officials said they have no record of cancellations of any races in the track’s 78-year history, nor could any longtime media members recall so much as one canceled race here.

One of the canceled races was the scheduled feature, the Transylvania Stakes, which had scratched down from 13 to seven starters after the race was moved off the turf. Racing officials said the Grade 3, $100,000 race has been rescheduled for April 15.

Pari Mutuel refunds will be made on all live tickets, including those involving multirace wagers involving races 7 through 10. Full information is available at keeneland.com. Conditions were expected to improve Friday night, well in time for the huge Saturday card highlighted by the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes and four other graded events. The Saturday forecast calls for sunny skies and high temperatures in the mid-50s.