It was announced yesterday that the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K & 10K will not be held this year due to major budget cuts. This announcement comes as a surprise to many runners who have run this event in years past.

The races were scheduled for September 28 at 8:15 am. The 10K would have taken off from Frick Park, and the 5K from Oakland. As it appears, there are no plans to reschedule the event for later in the year. Below is a press release posted on the race Web site, www.rungreatrace.com.

From the Citiparks Office of Special Events, Pittsburgh, PA:

Dear Runners, Sponsors, Race Enthusiasts,

We regret to inform you that the 2003 Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race is cancelled. Those of you who have already registered will receive refunds. Those of you who were planning on registering, we thank you for your good intentions.

The staff of Citiparks Office of Special Events, who organized this race, are very saddened to see such a great Pittsburgh tradition not held this year. At this point in time the Office of Special Events has been dissolved effective September 1, 2003. What this means to the citizens of the City of Pittsburgh is the following: NO 2004 African-American History Month Activities, NO 2004 Junior Golf Clinics and Invitational, NO 2004 Fourth of July Celebration at the Point State Park, NO 2004 Bach, Beethoven and Brunch Series, NO 2004 Great Ride, NO support for community Foot Races in 2004 (Greenfield Glide, Brookline Breeze, Run around the Square), NO 2004 Riverview 5K, NO 2004 Reservoir of Jazz, NO 2003 Tree Lighting Ceremony and most importantly NO Great Race.

If you would like to see some of this programming come back in the year 2004, please contact your local state Representative and insist that Parks and Recreation be reinstated if a tax reform package is approved. Please visit the Web site of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to find out who to contact in your area.

We thank you for your many years of support of this event and will miss seeing all of you at the Start and Finish lines.