Del Mar cancels Saturday’s races due to threat of rain; Friday’s event will start early

DEL MAR — Saturday’s nine-race card at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has been cancelled due to the forecast of significant rainfall and Friday’s first post has been advanced 30 minutes to noon due to the approaching storm.

At the moment, horse racing is still scheduled for Sunday, although the races scheduled for the turf have been moved to the main track.

Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens said Saturday’s cancellation is in compliance with the California Horse Racing Board’s inclement weather policy.

“With this particular storm, we’re looking at possibly two inches of rain and high winds Saturday,” said Jerkens. “Plus, there are other logistics. We rely on most of our horses shipping in for the fall meeting races. And without the turf course available, it’s difficult to fill out a card.”

Eastern tracks typically run during inclement weather.

“But they operate with a different set of dynamics from Southern California tracks,” said Jerkens. “We don’t have that many rain dates for races or training. And the CHRB established a policy for weather conditions.”

Saturday’s scheduled $100,000, seven-furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies has been moved to Sunday. All six horses, led by the Bob Baffert-trained Himika, remain entered.

But the 7-furlong Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-old horses has been moved from Sunday to Nov. 21.

Jerkens said Del Mar is studying options to add other races cancelled on Saturday to the remaining days of the fall meeting that ends Nov. 30.