Pimlico to cancel due to heat ?
 

Don’t these tracks cancel racing on days that are in the high 90’s ? I guess the money will overshadow the heat. Any other race day the card would be cancelled.

no...unless the HEAT INDEX (ie. high humidity) is way up there.

Temp is supposed to be 96 for a high in Baltimore with a heat index of 99. So basically humidity is a non-factor.

All resources online say anything above a heat index of 95 is considered dangerous. I found an article about Saratoga canceling at the same high temperatures and heat index in low 100’s. No doubt the big races at Pimlico on Saturday make the decision to cancel more likely not to happen. I’ve talked to a friend of mine who is a steward in NY and he said if it was a regular racing day it would be cancelled. So that’s that.

If a heat index of 95 is cause for cancellation Gulfstream wouldn't be able to run one race from June through September.

[QUOTE=therussmeister;2804921]If a heat index of 95 is cause for cancellation Gulfstream wouldn't be able to run one race from June through September.[

Yeah I don’t know the exact formula that is used to determine a cancellation but a heat index of 95 is lower then 99 which is forecasted for Saturday. Saratoga cancelled with a 103 heat index a few years ago. It’s ironic there has been no talk about cancelling when the deciding numbers seem to be very close.

For people interested in accuracy, aside from never listening to a word posted by the OP in this thread, cancellation is recommended with a heat index above 105.

Copied from Bloodhorse article :

According to weather.com as of noon on May 18, the high in Baltimore on Saturday will be 96 degrees, which coupled with 49% humidity, will create a heat index of nearly 105 degrees. Their forecast on Friday calls for a high of 92 degrees with 56% humidity.

This would be a DEFINITE cancellation any other day.

it's a Carcharodon carcharias.

you have to close the beach

I got my numbers that I posted in this thread directly from NOAA.gov

Their current forecast is 96 degree temp with 99 heat index.

I don't know where weather.com is getting 105 from, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is my go-to for accurate weather data.

PS. just in case, I'm getting my poster boards and wooden sticks ready for my protest march outside the gates of Pimlico on Saturday (and my sunscreen).

We're gonna need a bigger bet.

Chief Brody :D

From July 2019 cancellation at Laurel. Saratoga also cancelled on the Saturday of this weekend and this is same date as Monmouth postponing Haskell to the evening after attempting to run a normal post and getting told by state gov't it wasn't going to happen. I did not see any "excessive heat watch advisories" on the NOAA site (weather.gov) posted for this weekend as yet.

https://www.laurelpark.com/race-info...acing-due-heat

"Due to forecasts calling for excessive heat with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, the Maryland Jockey Club has decided to cancel its live racing programs Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21.

A total of 83 horses were entered for Saturday’s nine-race program that featured three allowances including the 3-year-old debut of juvenile stakes winner Scrap Copper. All races drawn for Saturday will be brought back as extras. Sunday’s card was to be drawn Thursday.

Temperatures were forecast to reach highs of 97 on Saturday and 98 on Sunday, with high humidity. The U.S. National Weather Service posted an excessive heat watch advisory for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days, with the heat index expected to reach as high as 110 to 115.

“With the forecast calling for extreme temperatures and high humidity this weekend, we have decided to cancel our live programs both Saturday and Sunday,” said Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra. “The health and safety of our horses and jockeys is our highest priority.”

Weird hills to choose to die on.

NOAA/National Weather Service has actually lowered the forecast high for 5/21 (see attached).

Now it's 94

With a heat index of 97

Nothing is getting cancelled on Saturday at Pimlico.

Nor should it be.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...&AheadDay.y=11

A better question might why did they take races off the turf today, with 1% chance of showers and a fast main track, totally gutting what was a decent card?