Following the cancellation of Wednesday's eight-race program because of insufficient entries, Thursday's program is likely to be treated with more interest from racing fans, throughout the nation.
The eight-race program drew 71 entrants, including four fields of 10 starters. There are three optional claimers, including a race for 3-year-olds in the second race, a sprint in the fifth race and a race for state-breds over 1 1-16 miles in the seventh race. The larger fields should yield decent betting pools.
Track officials stressed on Sunday that Wednesday's cancellation is likely to be an isolated incident. Last year, the final nine Wednesdays of the meeting were cancelled in May when it became apparent that an acute horse shortage problem existed.
With Wednesday's cancellation, there is still five days of racing this week, from Thursday through Monday's Memorial Day program. That is followed by a three-day week, from June 4-6.