Churchill Cancels Nov. 19 Live Racing

Image: 
Description: 

Citing a winter weather blast that sent temperatures into the teens and sub-zero wind-chills has prompted Churchill Downs to cancel its 10-race live program for Nov. 19.

As a result of the cold, the main track at Churchill is frozen and training over the surface was canceled the morning of Nov. 18. With temperatures forecast to climb only into the low 20s Tuesday and dip back into the teens Tuesday evening, track officials determined rack conditions would not improve significantly before racing Wednesday.

In a release, officials said temperatures are forecast to climb above freezing Wednesday afternoon and track maintenance crews will be working around the clock from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning to get the track in suitable condition for the racing program scheduled for Nov. 20.

"Our top priority on any day at Churchill Downs is the health and safety of the human and equine participants in our sport, and current conditions and our short-term forecast have convinced us that it is in the best interests of all participants that we cancel the live racing program scheduled for Wednesday," Churchill Downs president Kevin Flanery said in a statement. "We're dealing with unusual weather conditions and the combination of moisture in our track with the rapid drop in temperatures and wind-chill readings have resulted in a track surface that is unsafe for horses and humans, and there appears to be little chance of significant improvement until well into the day on Wednesday. Our track team has been and will continue to work on the surface to ensure it will be ready for racing on Thursday."

The cancellation is the first at Churchill since triple-digit temperatures prompted the cancellation of a racing program June 28, 2012. The last time a fall meet race program at Churchill was canceled due to a wintry mix was Nov. 13, 1986, when racing was scrapped due to a frozen track.

The Nov. 19 cancellation will be the 19th documented weather-related cancellation at the track and the sixth connected to a frozen track or snow.

Churchill officials said simulcast wagering on other tracks around North America will be available at Trackside at Churchill Downs with free admission. The track said it will contact groups and individual patrons who had purchased seating for the racing program on Wednesday to reschedule their visits.