Queens, New York — Feb. 6, 2016: Live racing scheduled at Aqueduct Racetrack for Saturday, Feb. 7, and Sunday, Feb. 8, 2016 was canceled by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) as a powerful winter storm impacted the northeastern United States, bringing arctic temperatures, heavy snow, and hazardous conditions to the New York City metropolitan area. The brutal cold and associated winter weather made conducting live racing unsafe for horses, jockeys, and racing personnel.
The weekend cancellations were part of a broader pattern of winter storm–related disruptions affecting horse racing and other outdoor events across the region during that period. Meteorologists reported a significant North American winter storm during early February 2016 that brought heavy snowfall and dangerously low temperatures to parts of the Northeast, contributing to the decision to suspend racing operations at the Big A for the weekend.
NYRA officials typically cite public safety and animal welfare as primary factors in canceling race days when extreme winter weather threatens track conditions and the health of participants.