Tuesday's racing at York, the opening day of the Ebor meeting, has been abandoned because of a waterlogged track. An inspection on Tuesday afternoon led to abandonment of the Wednesday card as well. There has been heavy rain in the York area and the brief spells of dry weather have hardly made a dent.

The Juddmonte International, Tuesday's feature has been moved to Friday. The Great Voltigeur Stakes will also be rescheduled. The Totesport Ebor, Wednesday's main event, will also be moved to another day. The Ebor meeting ends on Friday but racing may be held on Saturday. Holding a race or two at another venue is also being considered.

Large parts of Britain and Ireland, in recent days, have been affected by rain. Several meetings have fallen victims to poor weather. In the US, Saratoga in New York has been plagued by inclement weather.

On Monday at Saratoga, trainer Linda Rice saddled the first four finishers in the Mechanicville Stakes. Ahvee's Destiny, John Velasquez up, was the winner at 9-1. Canadian Ballet was second and Silver Timber took third. Karakorum Elektra was fourth.

"People kind of joked about it. I thought it was wishful thinking that it would be 1-2-3-4, " reacted trainer Rice.
 
Saratoga track announcer Tom Durkin said, "The Linda Rice Superfecta pays $3,490. Linda, I sure hope you had it."

Linda Rice did not have a Superfecta ticket. She is superstitious and does not wager on trains she trains.

Mike de Kock has won the training title in South Africa for the fourth time. De Kock has had an exceptional year. He sent out several winners in stakes races at the Dubai carnival.

In Italy, Lorenzo Brogi, 77, a leading trainer, passed away on Friday. His name was one of the best recognized in Italian racing.

Genuine Risk died on Aug 18. The Exclusive Native filly won the 1980 Kentucky Derby with Jacinto Vasquez. Genuine Risk, owned by the Firestones, was one of three fillies to win the Derby. Regret won in 1915 and Winning Colors was victorious in 1988. Genuine Risk was the oldest living winner of the Kentucky Derby.
 
Genuine Risk was second in the Preakness to Codex. In the Belmont Stakes, Temperence Hill, making the most of a sloppy track, beat Genuine Risk.
 
Curlin will go in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, August 30. The Breeders' Cup is not on the agenda for Curlin because of Santa Anita's polytrack.
 
Curlin worked 1,400 metres in 1 24.84 on August 18. Trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased. "All of his serious preparation is in for the Woodward and we are feeling very good."
 
Proud Spell has been ruled out of the Breeders' Cup. Winner of the Alabama Stakes over Music Note, Proud Spell has less than a stellar record on synthetic surface. Larry Jones, Proud Spell's trainer, has said that the Alabama win should clinch the Eclipse Award for his filly as the top three year-old female.
 
Bay Meadows in San Francisco has shut its doors. The last race card was run on Sunday, August 17. You Lift Me Up, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won the last race. Hollendorfer has been a big presence at Bay Meadows. He won 37 consecutive training titles.

There are races of major significance this weekend. Saratoga hosts the Travers on Saturday. It is a 2000-metre race for three year-olds. The King's Bishop, over 1,400 metres, will be run on Saturday. The 1800-metre Bernard Baruch is also part of the Saturday menu.
 
Del Mar will have the million dollar Pacific Classic on Sunday, August 24.
 
Meanwhile, an inspection at noon on Wednesday of York track did not offer new hope. The course was soaked and there is prospect of more rain. The decision to abandon the four-day Ebor meeting has been made. The process of rescheduling and moving some races to other courses has begun.

Sources: Racing Post and NTRA