NYRA closes Saratoga Race Course on Friday due to severe weather

The New York Racing Association, NYRA, closed the Saratoga Race Course on Friday due to heavy rain and strong winds associated with Tropical Storm Debby. According to NYRA. the 10-race card was planned to take place Friday and feature $125,000 Evan Shipman and $125,000 Union Avenue will be rescheduled.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York Racing Association, NYRA, closed the Saratoga Race Course on Friday due to heavy rain and strong winds associated with Tropical Storm Debby. According to NYRA, the 10-race card was planned to take place Friday and feature $125,000 Evan Shipman and $125,000 Union Avenue will be rescheduled.

The severe weather, however, did not stop those hoping to go to the racetrack from making the most of their time in Saratoga. Businesses on Broadway in downtown Saratoga saw a jump in sales and significantly more people downtown as the race was closed.

"Especially since the rain stopped, yes, today over a normal Friday its up about a good 20 to 30 percent," said James Kommer, owner of James and Sons Tobacconists.

Kommer is not the only business owner downtown who saw more people out today, Heidi West, owner of Lifestyles of Saratoga, said downtown was the place to be after the race was cancelled.

"It has been a crazy day, I think what happened is anyone that couldn't go to the Saratoga Race Course ending up coming downtown, so it has been brisk all day long," West said.

Some people downtown are upset the race did not happen, but others like Kyleigh Goral were able to turn the day around.

"We came in today to see the horse races and unfortunately today was wet and rainy. We're also here for my bachelorette. We went to Wheatfield for dinner and just wandered around the strip, and now we are going to go drinking and take some shots," Goral said.

Both Kommer and West had tents set up at the course, hoping to also make sales at the race, and are also bummed it did not happen. They are hoping tomorrow will be different.

"Yeah, we lose revenue, right?" Kommer said. "So it always bums me out when we lose revenue."

"I think things will be drying up overnight, we loaded up at the track so that we are ready to sell there; I think we can all move over there tomorrow," West said.

According to NYRA, the race was supposed to feature $125,000 Evan Shipman and $125,000 Union Avenue, but they will be rescheduled. Races planned for Saturday are planned to take place as normal.