Playfair Cancels Program

Today’s horse racing program at Playfair Race Course, where the track is undergoing renovation, has been canceled.

Eight hundred cubic yards of additional sandy surface have been added to the five-furlong oval, and as a result, the track was closed to training Thursday and today. Track superintendent Earl Doidge expects his crew to finish grooming the surface this afternoon.

The season began with a racing surface of about 2 inches and the expectation that, as fall developed, it might be necessary to add to the cushion. When horsemen complained earlier this week that the surface had become too hard, general manager Dan Hillyard issued the order to renovate.

The $15,000 added Playfair Mile and the $21,680 All West Derby, two of the season’s top prizes, will be decided when racing resumes on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, Saturday’s bettors will try to crack a twin trifecta jackpot of $90,000 or more.

Ten horses, led by Canadian sprint star Royal Frolic, 3-year-old standout Super Ciel and Secret Past, have entered Saturday’s 50th running of the Playfair Mile.

Montana 3-year-old sensation Inlovewiththesport will be a prohibitive favorite against six rivals at 1 miles Sunday in the All West Derby. Inlovewiththesport has won five straight races, three of them stakes.

, DataTimes