Del Mar will not race next Thursday out of concern for a rainstorm that is expected to arrive in the area on Tuesday and last through Thursday, the track announced Friday.

John Rubinstein, the track’s president, said the Thursday cancellation was being done “out of an abundance of caution.”

“We looked at the forecast, talked to our guys,” Rubinstein said, referring to Dennis Moore, the director of track maintenance, and Leif Dickinson, the turf course superintendent. “We should be fine by Friday.”

Del Mar was to take entries on Saturday for Thursday’s card, but that now will be cancelled. The Thursday races will be used as extras in coming days, Rubinstein said. The Friday card will be drawn on Sunday, per usual, Rubinstein said.

Preservation of the turf course is paramount, because Del Mar’s biggest week is from Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, when the track hosts its annual turf festival, a series of seven graded stakes races culminating with two Grade 1 events, the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 30 and Matriarch Stakes on Dec. 1.

A full story will be posted later at www.drf.com