A winter snowstorm brought delays and cancellations for some sporting events after it hit on Thursday, with predictions of three to nine inches of snow for numerous states along the Northeast, the Associated Press reported.
The could-be blizzard caused a change in schedule at the Aqueduct Racetrack after the New York Racing Association canceled live racing on Friday, the AP reported. Some of the race times were bumped up with the last race taking place around 3:45 p.m. in anticipation of the storm.
"Given the poor weather forecast, we made an early decision to cancel Friday's racing so as to minimize any inconvenience to our customers, horsemen and employees," Eric Wing, director of communications for NYRA, said, according to the AP.
New York Islanders fans were given the option to change their tickets for a future weekday game beginning Saturday, the AP reported. Fans who did choose to attend got a bargain with hot dogs and sodas for $2 each, and a voucher to exchange the used ticket for another under the same policy as before, though restrictions based on availability apply.
New York City and Long Island are also under blizzard warning with an estimated 10 inches by Friday, according to the National Weather Service, the AP reported. Parts of northern New York like Buffalo and Albany were expected to receive up to 14 inches.
The mens basketball game between South Dakota State and Buffalo for Saturday was postponed, the AP reported, along with another game in Hamden, Conn. scheduled for Thursday between Iona and Quinnipiac which were rescheduled for Monday.
In the City, a high of 15 is expected for Friday, according to a weather service forecaster, making it the coldest day since Jan. 10, 2004, the AP reported.
The Long Island Expressway will be closed from Thursday at midnight till 5 a.m. on Friday from Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as the New York State Thruway which will be closed from Albany south to New York City, according to the AP.
A live racing event at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa. was also canceled from its original date on Thursday to a later date, depending on the snowstorms course, the AP reported.
"We're supposed to get somewhere between three and five inches," Director of Marketing Fred Lipkin said, according to the AP."It's really gray. The winter hasn't been that great."
The blizzard-like weather is perfect for USA Luge which is occurring at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Massachusetts, the AP reported. The event is set to begin next Saturday.
"This is the perfect storm," USA Luge spokesman Sandy Caligiore said, according to the AP. "The entire region is getting snow, and there is cold weather to also continue snowmaking. The combination of more natural and man-made snow will create excellent conditions for the Norton Luge Challenge. It's possible that we could discover some future Olympians on that hill."
