Golden Gate Cancels Sept. 11 Amid Poor Air Quality

Citing "prevailing conditions" in the Bay Area caused by wildfires in California, Golden Gate Fields canceled racing Sept. 11.

Northern California has experienced smoke for weeks, but conditions have deteriorated in recent days. With limited wind forecasted for Friday, air quality is expected to remain unhealthy.

As of early Friday morning, Airnow.gov listed regions of the Bay Area has having Air Quality Index readings of between 155-253. Any reading above 150 is considered unhealthy.

By comparison, much of Southern California — where other wildfires are burning —readings registered below 100 for the most part.

The pollution can be seen as well as inhaled. The wildfires in the region have created at times orange skies in the Bay Area from smoke and ash.

This is not the first time Golden Gate has needed to cancel due to air quality. In another case, it halted racing for a short period during the fall of 2018 amid another set of wildfires.

Golden Gate had an eight-race card planned on Friday before the cancellation was announced in the morning. The cancellation of racing at Golden Gate also resulted in the scrapping of the Stronach 5, a regular wager on Fridays that links a series of races from tracks owned by The Stronach Group, which includes Golden Gate.

A planned break between race meets is currently underway in Southern California after Del Mar finished its summer season Sept. 7. Santa Anita Park opens Sept. 19.

Los Alamitos Race Course in Southern California is running a mixed meet of Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds. The Orange County track is scheduled to race Friday.