The Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 19, at Saratoga Race Course has been canceled because of a shortage of entries.
“Our horsemen have endured a brutal summer, with high temperatures and dry conditions limiting their ability to train toward races like the Walsh,” said Bill Gallo Jr., the National Steeplechase Association’s director of racing. “The hard ground in the regions where most steeplechase horses are trained has had a very negative effect on our horsemen. To their credit, the three steeplechase races that have been run to date at Saratoga have averaged eight starters.”
The Saratoga schedule of steeplechase races continues Thursday, Aug. 26, with the $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1).