Intense heat this week has led to post-time adjustments and racing changes for tracks scheduled to run in hot temperatures. The following post-time changes have been made for racing Sept. 3:
Kentucky Downs Moves Up Post Time, Shortens Card
Thursday's live racing program at Kentucky Downs has been moved to an 11 a.m. CT first post because of a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service for the Franklin, Ky., area.
Kentucky Downs management made the decision out of an abundance of safety, and in conjunction with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the horsemen. Originally scheduled as an 11-race program, Sept. 3 will now only run races 1-7 as scheduled.
The $750,000 Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes, scheduled as Race 9 Thursday, will now be run Sept. 9, a day that is also scheduled to feature the $2 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) and the $750,000 Juvenile Mile Stakes. The Kentucky Downs racing office will reopen invitations for the Bowling Green Gold Cup, which will be redrawn Sept. 2.
Races 8, 10, and 11 for Thursday's card are listed in the condition book for either Sept. 7 or Sept. 9 (horses must be reentered), and post positions are to be drawn Sept. 1 or Sept. 2. The Racing Department expects to card two divisions of all three races for the final two days of the meet provided that sufficient entries are received.
Colonial Downs to Begin Racing in Morning
Colonial Downs will move up its Thursday live racing card to a 9 a.m. ET first post because of forecasted heat for the New Kent, Va., area.
The 11-race card will begin with three jump races followed by eight races on the flat, with the first flat race slated for approximately 10:25 a.m. The last race will be run at approximately 1:30 p.m.
The Sept. 4 card is scheduled for its regular 12:30 p.m. first post, as are programs slated for Sept. 5 and Sept. 6. The summer meet closes Sept. 7 with an 11-race card headed by the $500,000 Old Dominion Derby (G3T). Post time Monday is 12 p.m.
