Belmont calls off racing, Nats PPD due to smoke
Racing at Belmont Park was canceled and the Washington Nationals‘ home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed Thursday because of poor air quality from wildfires in Canada.
It’s the second straight day the fires north of the border have impacted sports in the Northeastern United States. The New York Giants also called off a practice Thursday scheduled to be held in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The New York Racing Association canceled live racing at Belmont Park two days before the facility is scheduled to host the final leg of the Triple Crown with the Belmont Stakes.
As previously announced, morning training was canceled Thursday at both Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. The conditions that necessitated the cancelation of training are likely to persist this afternoon and into the evening, according to the NYRA, and a twilight racing program that would kick off the 2023 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival has been canceled.
“Based on current forecast models and consultation with our external weather services, we remain optimistic that we will see an improvement in air quality on Friday,” NYRA president & CEO David O’Rourke said in a statement.
The Diamondbacks-Nationals contest, which was rescheduled for June 22 at Nationals Park, was the third game postponed by Major League Baseball over the past two days. The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies had their home games postponed Wednesday.
“This postponement was determined following conversations throughout the day with medical and weather experts and the two impacted Clubs regarding clearly hazardous air quality conditions in Washington, D.C.,” MLB said in a statement.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez, speaking to reporters before the postponement was announced, said he hoped MLB would make the right decision for both players and fans while adding that he walked his dogs Thursday morning and it “wasn’t good.”
The game in New York between the White Sox and Yankees was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Thursday, and the Phillies’ game against the Tigers also was reset for Thursday, originally a day off for both teams.
MLB was continuing to monitor the air quality in both cities, but as of Thursday morning, the doubleheader in the Bronx at 4:05 p.m. ET and the contest in Philadelphia at 6:05 ET both were still scheduled to be played.
A National Women’s Soccer League game in New Jersey and an indoor WNBA game set for Brooklyn were also called off Wednesday amid hazy conditions that have raised alarms from health authorities.
The Giants’ practice Friday also is likely to be canceled, according to coach Brian Daboll. The New York Jets still planned to practice Thursday and Friday at their indoor facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, some 30 miles west of East Rutherford.
“It is [wild times],” New York offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said minutes after practice was called off. “Have not [seen anything like it] — have not. Wednesday it was orange [outside].”
The air quality index outdoors in East Rutherford was 198 at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday — a number that is considered unhealthy. An AQI of 200 and above is very unhealthy.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
Ole Miss standout receiver Tre Harris aggravated an injury in the first half at Florida on Saturday and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, a 24-17 Gators win.
Harris initially injured his hip/groin area against LSU on Oct. 12. He returned against Florida, only to go down after a catch late in the second quarter.
During the broadcast, ABC’s Molly McGrath reported it was an aggravation of the original injury.
Harris was seen in street clothes on the sideline to start the second half. He had one catch for 43 yards and a touchdown before exiting.
Harris came into the game as one of the top receivers in the nation, leading the No. 9 Rebels with 987 yards and six touchdowns.
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies agreed to a one-year deal Saturday with infielder Kyle Farmer after the decision to non-tender Brendan Rodgers, a move that made the former first-round pick a free agent.
Farmer spent last season with the Minnesota Twins and batted .214 with five homers and 25 RBIs over 107 games. He is a career .250 hitter over eight major league seasons that includes stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Twins.
The 34-year-old was an eighth-round pick by the Dodgers in 2013 out of the University of Georgia. He made his debut July 30, 2017, going 1-for-1 with 2 RBIs against the San Francisco Giants.
On Friday, Colorado non-tendered right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill and Rodgers. The 28-year-old Rodgers was the third overall pick by the Rockies in the 2015 amateur draft. He hit .266 over six seasons and 452 games with Colorado and earned a Gold Glove at second base in 2022.
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