NYRA persevering with opening-day card at Saratoga
Daily Racing Form • • sports
Key Points:
- The Saratoga Race Course plans to proceed with its opening-day program on Friday despite forecasted high temperatures in the low-to-mid-90s and heat indexes near 100, as the heat index threshold for review is 105.
- NYRA will implement heat-related safety protocols mandated by the New York State Gaming Commission, including veterinary examinations of all horses on race mornings to ensure they are fit to run in hot conditions.
- Veterinarians will monitor horses closely before, during, and after races at multiple locations, with cooling stations and ice water available to help manage heat stress for horses and jockeys.
- The first race on Friday is scheduled for 1:10 p.m., with temperatures expected to moderate over the weekend, and NYRA uses an on-site weather station for real-time monitoring.
- NYRA expressed enthusiasm about welcoming fans back for the 46-day meet while prioritizing animal welfare and safety amid the heat.
