SARATOGA SPRINGS — Live racing at Saratoga Race Course was cancelled prior to the third race today when heavy rain washed out a portion of the main track.

After the problem was discovered by track maintanaince crews, the decision was made at 2:17 p.m. following a consultation between riders, racing stewards and track management.

"It was a safety issue," New York Racing Association steward Braulio Baeza Jr. said. "They said it would be at least an hour before they could fix the track."

A thunderstorm swept through the area at 1:45 p.m., with heavy rain pounding the track for 20 minutes before letting up. The third race was delayed and horses were eventually led on to the track before being returned to the paddock and unsaddled at 2:12 p.m.

The last time racing was cancelled at Saratoga came on Aug. 2, 2006, when the entire card was scrapped due to extreme heat. The final race of the afternoon was cancelled following Birdstone's victory in the 2004 Travers.