Colonial Downs has rescheduled its Friday, July 3 live racing card to Monday, July 6 as extreme heat continues to force changes across the US racing calendar.
The New Kent, Virginia track had initially brought post times forward in an attempt to race before the worst of the conditions, but the Friday programme will now be carried over in its entirety as drawn.
According to Thoroughbred Daily News, Colonial will also start its Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5 cards at 10.45am, while Monday’s rescheduled card is due to begin at the regular 12.30pm post time.
Heat disruption spreads across US tracks
The decision adds Colonial Downs to a growing list of venues affected by the same weather pattern.
Monmouth Park, Delaware Park, Ellis Park, Belterra Park and Woodbine have also had Friday disruption, leaving owners, trainers and bettors facing a reshuffled Independence Day weekend.
For Colonial, the key sporting point is that the card has not been redrawn.
That should preserve the fields and race conditions originally assembled for July 3, while moving the welfare risk away from the hottest part of the week.
The change also keeps the weekend’s Virginia-bred stakes programme alive, with Saturday’s early-start card still scheduled to feature the Miss Disco and Star De Naskra Stakes.
