Poor Air Quality Nixes Thursday Training at Belmont

The New York Racing Association issued the following statement late Wednesday in regard to training Thursday morning at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course:

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled training on Thursday at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course due to poor air quality conditions forecast to impact New York State overnight and into Thursday morning.

Training ordinarily takes place daily at Belmont from 5:30-10:30 a.m. and at Saratoga from 5:30-11 a.m.

A decision regarding Thursday's live racing program, which has a first post of 3:05 p.m., will be made Thursday morning following a review of the air quality conditions and forecast.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is working with NYRA and other tracks as smoke from wildfires has impacted many tracks in the Northeast.

"HISA is working with affected racetracks to provide guidance to ensure the safest possible conditions for racing," HISA said in a statement. "HISA does not have a specific rule regarding air quality but HISA's Racetrack Safety rules require racetracks to develop, implement, and annually review hazardous weather protocols. HISA supports the use of the Air Quality Index as published at airnow.gov to guide decisions about training and racing. Air quality can vary significantly between tracks, and the authority to alter training and racing schedules ultimately lies with the individual jurisdiction and racetrack. Horsemen and women are encouraged to take into account the airway health of their teams and the individual horses in their care, even in the absence of modified training and racing schedules.

"HISA's Director of Equine Safety and Welfare, Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, is available to provide guidance as these air quality decisions are made at the local level."