Los Alamitos, CHRB Preparing for Intense Heat

Situated significantly closer to the Pacific Ocean than Santa Anita Park, the early summer meet at Los Alamitos Race Course is usually a relief from the scorching weather inland.

The forecast for July 6, however, with record highs expected throughout the Southern California region, does not show much relief. With an expected high of 104 degrees in Cypress, Calif. (Arcadia, Calif., where Santa Anita is located, is expected to reach 112), staff at Los Alamitos and officials from the California Horse Racing Board are on alert and monitoring the situation, but as of now racing is scheduled to proceed as planned Friday.

"We're monitoring it very closely and will continue to monitor it," said Orlando Gutierrez, Los Alamitos' director of publicity. "Being so close to the Pacific Ocean, we definitely benefit from that ocean breeze, but this is a rare situation."

From the CHRB perspective a call to intervene, if conditions were too severe, would ultimately come down to CHRB equine medical director Dr. Rick Arthur's evaluation of the heat index, which factors in temperature, humidity, and wind.

"The heat index evaluates when horses lose the ability to dissipate heat," Arthur said. "Like humans, the way they dissipate heat is they sweat. When you get in a hot and humid area, you lose the ability (for sweat to evaporate well). When sweat evaporates, it takes an enormous amount of heat away."

Lower humidity makes racing at higher temperatures possible, because cooling from sweat is aided by dryer conditions. Arthur pointed to cases during fair meets at Sacramento and at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif., in recent years, where temperatures reached triple digits and racing was conducted without major incident.

"There were several days over 100 (degrees) at Sacramento (last year) and we had no problems at all because of low humidity," Arthur said. "In the Midwest and back east, you get problems when you have 80% humidity and 90-degree heat."

Arthur also said CHRB veterinary staff on-site will be prepared for any overheating issues, with extra ice and water available in multiple areas at the racetrack, including in ambulances. Arthur estimated the heat index for Friday at Los Alamitos would be 125, which he said was "very manageable."

"It does not mean it is comfortable," Arthur added. "You still have to be prepared."

Although the heat wave will continue inland in Southern California during the weekend, temperatures are expected to cool off at Los Alamitos. Weekend forecasts currently call for a high of 92 degrees July 7 and 88 degrees July 8.