Due to the extreme heat conditions, Woodbine Racetrack has decided to cancel its Thursday afternoon thoroughbred program. A number of other thoroughbred tracks across North America have also cancelled their cards.
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Woodbine Entertainment Group management made the decision to cancel this morning after consulting with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Ontario Racing Commission veterinarians.
Toronto is expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) and a Humidex reading of 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in the afternoon.
The all-time record temperature at Pearson International Airport is 38.3 degrees Celsius.
"In the best interest of the horses and after having discussed it with the HBPA and the veterinarians, it's the right decision to cancel Thursday's Thoroughbred card," said WEG Vice-President of Thoroughbred Racing Steve Koch.
Fans still have the opportunity to watch and wager on live simulcast racing from various racetracks across North America.
Live Thoroughbred racing is expected to resume at Woodbine on Friday, July 22 with a post time of 2:00 p.m.
Woodbine is not the only thoroughbred racetrack impacted my Thursday's extreme weather conditions. Finger Lakes Racetrack, located near Rochester, New York; Presque Isle Downs, in Erie, Pennsylvania; and Colonial Downs, near Richmond, Virginia, have all cancelled their Thursday programs. Monmouth Park Racetrack in New Jersey has already decided to reschedule its Friday afternoon program to Monday, July 25 because of the heat.
Plainridge Racecourse, located in suburban Boston, Massachusetts, announced on Thursday that it was pre-emptively cancelling its card of live thoroughbred racing for Friday, July 22 due to the sweltering conditions.
(with files from WEG)
KUDOS to WEG for making this
KUDOS to WEG for making this smart decision, not only for the horses, but serious consideration has to be given to the health and well-being of the jockeys, who are now forced (by the ORC) to wear the flack vests under their colours, adding extreme heat to their bodies. The same applies to the harness racing community, where the drivers are also forced (by ORC ruling) to wear flack vests under their colours, significantly raising their body temperatures to dangerous levels. I can only imagine that everyone's safety is at risk, should a driver be overcome with sudden onset of heat stroke, causing light headedness, and in some cases fainting. The veterinarians are monitoring the horses, but who is monitoring the drivers and jockeys?????