After several jockeys expressed safety concerns regarding one-mile races on the inner turf for 2-year-olds, the Stewards ordered that the distance of Race 4 be changed from a mile to 1 1/16-miles Sunday, triggering the cancellation of the Pick 4 and the Pick 6 carryover to be moved to Thursday's nine-race card, NYRA announced Sunday afternoon.
With the distance change completed, NYRA canceled Sunday's $1 Pick 6–which was to begin in Race 4. The $1 Pick 6, which includes a $166,702 carryover, will be moved to Thursday's nine-race card and commence in Race 4 at approximately 2:56 p.m. Eastern. In addition, Pick 4 and Pick 5 wagers commenced in Race 1, Race 2 and Race 3, will result in an ALL for Race 4. Pick 3s commenced in Race 2 and Race 3 and the Race 3 Double were not impacted. The Double and Pick 3 wagers beginning in Race 4 were canceled.
A race at the maiden condition and mile distance for juveniles was last run at Saratoga in Race 2 on Friday. There were two races run at this condition and distance in 2025–Race 7 on July 25 and Race 2 on Aug. 7.
“Once the decision was made, our concern turns to the gamblers, for those people that had already wagered on the Pick 6 and had handicapped with the race at a mile,” said NYRA chief revenue officer Tony Allevato.
“We decided that [the change in distance] wouldn't be fair to the gamblers, so we cancelled it for today and moved it to Thursday. There was no great result here, but we thought it was the best way to protect the gamblers, which was the second concern after safety.”
Today's Pick 6 has been canceled, with the carryover moving to Thursday, July 16.
NYRA Chief Revenue Officer Tony Allevato explains the decision. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/zpB3acrquV
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 12, 2026
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