Prompted by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), the New York State Gaming Commission ordered Belmont Park and the other racetracks under its watch to stop all racing, training and workouts indefinitely because of the poor air quality in the tri-state area. A New York Racing Association spokesperson downplayed the thought that this move would put Saturday’s Belmont Stakes 2023 in jeopardy.
“The New York State Gaming Commission directed all tracks to stop all racing, training and workouts until further notice,” said a commission statement, which was posted to social-media platforms Thursday at 12:42 p.m. EDT. “The Gaming Commission continues to monitor air quality and rely on guidance from veterinary expertise to ensure any decision to resume racing is based solely in the best interest of the horse population.”
The impetus for the order came from Hochul.
“As New Yorkers continue to experience unhealthy air quality as a result of Canadian wildfires, we must all work to ensure that animals, including those peak-performance equine athletes, are protected,” she said. “The measures being implemented at tracks across New York state are effective steps to keep all those who participate in the sport safe now and into the future.”
A New York Racing Association spokesperson said the commission already had been working with NYRA to determine how to go forward, including the suspension of training and racing Thursday.
“This guidance was arrived at in consultation with the New York Racing Association and is grounded in our shared efforts to provide the safest possible environment for training and racing Thoroughbred horses,” Pat McKenna of NYRA said. “NYRA will continue to closely monitor air quality in and around Belmont Park in the coming days, and we remain optimistic that conditions will allow for the resumption of training and racing on Friday.”
The gaming commission’s edict came after the New York Racing Association called off training at Belmont Park and Saratoga as well as races that had been scheduled for Thursday at Belmont. Even though the sky looked much better Thursday morning, the forecast of more bad afternoon air led to the cancellation.
“Due to poor air quality, racing today at Belmont Park has been canceled,” a NYRA text message to horsemen said just before 9 a.m. EDT.
As far as NYRA is concerned, Saturday’s Belmont Stakes remains in place as scheduled while a wait-and-see approach is taken with the smoky conditions brought on by wildfires in Canada. The gaming commission’s order, however, might have changed the race from probable to questionable.
“Safety is paramount as we navigate this unprecedented situation,” NYRA boss David O’Rourke said in a written statement. “NYRA will actively monitor all available data and weather information as we work toward the resumption of training and racing both here at Belmont Park and at Saratoga Race Course. Based on current forecast models and consultation with our external weather services, we remain optimistic that we will see an improvement in air quality on Friday.”
NYRA announced Wednesday night that training at Belmont Park and Saratoga would be canceled Thursday morning.
“I haven’t seen any impact,” trainer Todd Pletcher said about Belmont Stakes colts Forte and Tapit Trice as well as his other horses. “Everybody seems to be well. All our temperatures were normal today. I’ve seen no coughing or anything that you keep an eye out for.”
