With the air quality vastly improved, the 155th Belmont Stakes is expected to run as scheduled on Saturday.
Two days before hosting the final leg of the Triple Crown, Belmont Park canceled live racing Thursday due to the poor air quality caused by drifting smoke from Canadian wildfires around the track in Elmont, N.Y.
The New York Racing Association also canceled morning training in Thursday at both Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, but the horses resumed training Friday morning. Racing was set to resume Friday afternoon.
“Moving forward, NYRA will continue to actively monitor air quality conditions and forecasts to ensure the environment remains safe for racing participants and fans this weekend,” the organization said in a statement Friday morning..
The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes is scheduled for Saturday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Kentucky Derby winner Mage is not running, but Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure is part of the nine-horse field for the 1 1/2-mile race.
–Field Level Media