Churchill Downs cancels Thursday card, citing extreme heat in forecast

by | 06.26.2012 | 8:52pm
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With weather forecasts calling for near-record triple-digit heat, officials at Churchill Downs Racetrack have decided to cancel the track’s live racing program scheduled for Thursday, June 28.

The cancelled Thursday racing card included nine races with a scheduled post time of 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).  It was to have been the first of four racing programs set for the final week of the track’s Spring Meet, which will conclude on Sunday, July 1.  Simulcast wagering on tracks from around North America will be offered at Trackside at Churchill in the track’s Clubhouse.  Admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

With Thursday’s cancellation, Churchill Downs has three racing days remaining in its Spring Meet:

–Friday, June 29 – an 11-race twilight program with a post time of 2:45 p.m.;

–Saturday, Jun 30 – an 11-race “Downs After Dark” night racing program with 6 p.m. post;

–Sunday, July 1 – a “Closing Day” program for the 138th Spring Meet with 10 races scheduled.

Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said his track team consulted with National Weather Service forecasters before making its decision to cancel Thursday’s racing, and would continue to do so while assessing the status of the three remaining racing programs during what forecasters predict will be several days of extreme heat in the region.

“Our first priority on any day at Churchill Downs is the health and safety of the human and equine participants in our sport, and Thursday’s forecast called for a triple-digit, possible record-high temperature under an afternoon sun,” Flanery said.  “We know how important these races and their purses are to our owners and trainers, but the health and safety issues convinced us this was the proper call for Thursday’s program.”

Weather-related cancellations of races at Churchill Downs are rare, but the ongoing Spring Meet is the second consecutive spring racing session to lose a day to weather issues.  One day of racing was cancelled in 2011 after a tornado roared through the Churchill Downs stable area and damaged several barns on Wednesday, June 22.  No horses or humans were injured by the tornado, but racing set for the following day was cancelled. 

Churchill Downs will contact groups and individual patrons who had purchased seating for the racing program on Thursday to reschedule their visit.

With weather forecasts calling for near-record triple-digit heat, officials at Churchill Downs Racetrack have decided to cancel the track’s live racing program scheduled for Thursday, June 28.
The cancelled Thursday racing card included nine races with a scheduled post time of 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).  It was to have been the first of four racing programs set for the final week of the track’s Spring Meet, which will conclude on Sunday, July 1.  Simulcast wagering on tracks from around North America will be offered at Trackside at Churchill in the track’s Clubhouse.  Admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m.
With Thursday’s cancellation, Churchill Downs has three racing days remaining in its Spring Meet:
–Friday, June 29 – an 11-race twilight program with a post time of 2:45 p.m.;
–Saturday, Jun 30 – an 11-race “Downs After Dark” night racing program with 6 p.m. post;
–Sunday, July 1 – a “Closing Day” program for the 138th Spring Meet with 10 races scheduled.
Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said his track team consulted with National Weather Service forecasters before making its decision to cancel Thursday’s racing, and would continue to do so while assessing the status of the three remaining racing programs during what forecasters predict will be several days of extreme heat in the region.
“Our first priority on any day at Churchill Downs is the health and safety of the human and equine participants in our sport, and Thursday’s forecast called for a triple-digit, possible record-high temperature under an afternoon sun,” Flanery said.  “We know how important these races and their purses are to our owners and trainers, but the health and safety issues convinced us this was the proper call for Thursday’s program.”
Weather-related cancellations of races at Churchill Downs are rare, but the ongoing Spring Meet is the second consecutive spring racing session to lose a day to weather issues.  One day of racing was cancelled in 2011 after a tornado roared through the Churchill Downs stable area and damaged several barns on Wednesday, June 22.  No horses or humans were injured by the tornado, but racing set for the following day was cancelled. 
Churchill Downs will contact groups and individual patrons who had purchased seating for the racing program on Thursday to reschedule their visit.

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  • wallyhorse

    You have to wonder if Churchill considered first making Thursday’s program a night card with first post at 6:00 or 7:00 PM before they decided to cancel.  I would suspect it would have been tough logistically to move post from 12:45 to 6:00 or 7:00 PM on short notice.

    What I would be looking at doing with this heat expected to continue is to make Friday’s and Sunday’s programs night cards as well with first post on Friday 6:00 PM and on Sunday 5:30 PM to get the cards out of the extreme heat of the day.

    As for the lost day, I would not try to jam extra races into the final two days of the meet and instead make that day up during the fall meet when more horses are available to run and CD could get away with one six-day week (I would use Tuesday, November 6, Election Day as the date to make up the canceled card).

  • Harry

    Kudos to Churchill Downs management for considering the terrible heat that once again is projected. I live in Mid-Atlantic and on Friday 102 is expected high. Again thank you for not making horses and jockeys have to compete under such drastic conditions. I would hope Delaware Park is listening as last Wednesday they ran under 98 degree heat not including humidity. Delaware Park has little sympathy for horses and humans only for the almighty dollar. Little wonder Delaware Park is falling apart in every aspect from casino money drying up due to competition. Delaware Park sad management and now it time to pay the piper for those very wrong decisions.

  • wallyhorse

    Churchill has since adjusted post time to 6:30 for the final three days of the meet, but even that may not be enough to prevent those cards from being scrapped.  It is now forecast to be 105 in Louisville on Friday, 106 on Saturday and 102 on Sunday.  It may be too dangerous even for night racing.

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