Weather Impacts Churchill June 23 Program
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Photo: Coady Photography/Churchill Downs
Weather played havoc with Churchill Downs’ twilight card of June 23, with the first race delayed and then the final race cancelled after severe thunderstorms moved through the Louisville, Ky., area.
The program that was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. (all times Eastern) was delayed by 65 minutes due to severe thunderstorms. Once racing began, seven races were run before another batch of storms with lightning developed as horses were headed to the gate for the eighth-race finale, a $17,000 maiden claiming event for 3-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs, prompting the cancellation.
“With the safety of the equine and human athletes in mind, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards, in conjunction with track officials, made the decision to cancel the race at post time,” Churchill said in a release.
The cancellation of Thursday’s final race was the 21st in track history and first since a frozen racetrack suspended racing on Nov. 19-20, 2014. This was the first spring meet suspension since extreme heat hit Louisville on June 28, 2012.
Racing at Churchill Downs is expected to continue Friday with a nine-race program at 12:45 p.m.