Dangerous heat wave on east coast puts big-money Haskell Invitational horse race in doubt
OCEANPORT, N.J. – With temperatures expected to soar at the Jersey Shore this weekend, there are growing concerns that the weather will impact Haskell Day, with the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational both the centerpiece of the meet and the anchor of a stakes-filled 14-race card at Monmouth Park on Saturday.
As of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, the National Weather Service is calling for a high temperature of 95 degrees, with a heat index as high as 106 degrees.
Saratoga in upstate New York, Parx in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Delaware Park outside Wilmington and Finger Lakes in upstate New York have called off racing for Saturday.
Laurel Park in Maryland has canceled racing on both Saturday and Sunday.
At Parx, the temperature is forecast to be 99 on Saturday, while 97 is forecast at Delaware Park and Laurel Park.
The National Weather Service is predicting the heat index at Saratoga on Saturday to be between 105 and 110 degrees, according to the New York Racing Association.
Monmouth Park did cancel racing due to intense heat on back-to-back days in 2011. On the second of those days, July 23, the temperature was 98 degrees, with a heat index of 107 degrees.
As of Thursday afternoon, however, Monmouth Park officials had no plans to cancel Saturday's card, which features Maximum Security, disqualified after winning the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, running in the Haskell.
"Our priority will be the safety of the horses, jockeys and our fans,’" said Dennis Drazin, the chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC., which operates Monmouth Park. "We will be in contact with the state veterinarians, and if we feel it’s unsafe for horses there are things we can do."
Post time for the Haskell, which is scheduled to be broadcast live on NBC, is set for 5:47 p.m., with NBC broadcasting from 5-6 p.m.
Drazin indicated that one option could be to shift the entire card back, with the Haskell run later in the evening when the temperatures would be cooler. Post time for the first race is scheduled for 12:04 p.m., with the Haskell scheduled as the 12th race. Drazin noted that they would do whatever they had to do to get the card in safely, even if it means NBC would be unable to broadcast the race live.
If the races are run, the track will have measures in place designed to keep both horses and patrons safe, he said, including extra emergency medical technicians to assist those impacted by the heat.
For horses, post parades will be shortened and water trucks will be equipped to hose down any runners impacted by the heat on the track. There will be ice and a misting system available in the paddock for horses prior to races.
On Saturday, July 6, Monmouth Park was forced to cancel the final seven races of the day after thunderstorm turned the track into a quagmire.