https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1666419776229449732?s=20 Smoke from more than 400 wildfires in eastern Canada that has carried into the Northeastern United States, causing poor air quality, has forced cancellations of racing at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, Delaware Park, and Penn National Race Course, according to notifications on Twitter June 7 from the three racetracks.
Finger Lakes, about 21 miles southeast of Rochester, N.Y., said it will cancel Wednesday racing and plans to resume Monday, June 12, with its first post at 1:15 p.m. The track also had canceled the last five races on its June 6 card due to New York State Gaming Commission safety regulations for air quality.
Due to the continued unhealthy air quality index in the area as the result of ongoing Canadian wildfires, racing has been canceled for today, Wednesday, June 7.
— Finger Lakes Gaming (@FlGaming) June 7, 2023
Racing is scheduled to resume on Monday, June 12, with a 1:15pm post time. pic.twitter.com/lammbxiwe8
Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., canceled racing Wednesday and Thursday under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority air quality guidelines and upon recommendation of the Delaware Racing Commission.
Due to the HISA air quality guidelines and acting upon the recommendation of the commission veterinarians, the live racing cards scheduled for today & tomorrow @DelParkRacing have been cancelled.
— Delaware Park (@DelParkRacing) June 7, 2023
Penn National, east of Harrisburg, Pa., in Grantville, also canceled its Wednesday card and was expecting to have racing resume Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.
Due to extremely poor air quality index, Live Racing for Wednesday, June 7, 2023 has been cancelled. Live Racing is scheduled to return on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 6:00 pm EDT.
— Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (@HollywoodPenn) June 7, 2023
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HISA's air quality guidelines rely on the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index to determine whether racing activity needs to be limited or cancelled. An AQI of 150-174 may limit training to jogging or galloping. When the index is at 175 or higher (classified as unhealthy at minimum), then racing activity, works, and galloping could be canceled.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is working with affected tracks.
"HISA is working with affected racetracks to provide guidance to ensure the safest possible conditions for racing," HISA said in a statement. "HISA does not have a specific rule regarding air quality but HISA's Racetrack Safety rules require racetracks to develop, implement, and annually review hazardous weather protocols. HISA supports the use of the Air Quality Index as published at airnow.gov to guide decisions about training and racing. Air quality can vary significantly between tracks, and the authority to alter training and racing schedules ultimately lies with the individual jurisdiction and racetrack. Horsemen and women are encouraged to take into account the airway health of their teams and the individual horses in their care, even in the absence of modified training and racing schedules.
"HISA's Director of Equine Safety and Welfare, Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, is available to provide guidance as these air quality decisions are made at the local level."
New York City's air quality was among the world's worst Tuesday night, according to the New York Times. Numbers were better Wednesday near Elmont, N.Y., where NYRA officials are monitoring the air quality near Belmont Park. Morning workouts were able to be conducted Wednesday, which had no scheduled racing. The air quality is being monitored ahead of scheduled racing Thursday, and ahead of Belmont Stakes day June 10.
"NYRA utilizes external weather services and advanced on-site equipment to monitor weather conditions and air quality in and around Belmont Park," said Pat McKenna, vice president of communications for the New York Racing Association. "Training was conducted normally today, and NYRA will continue to assess the overall environment to ensure the safety of training and racing throughout the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival."
Hazy skies from the wildfires, which include 150 active fires in Quebec alone, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, are affecting air quality from Minnesota to Massachusetts.
An exceptionally dry spring and a May heatwave are factors cited in the spreading wildfires that have scorched more than 2.7 million hectares, which is equivalent to more than five million football fields, according to a report from Reuters. Most of the fires are believed to have been caused accidentally by people. Multiple reports say the forecast is calling for wetter weather Friday throughout Ontario, where the fire risk is highest, according to data from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.
