The California State Fair at Cal Expo canceled its opening weekend race programs out of safety concerns over projected extreme temperatures in Sacramento.
Like all race meets in California, the State Fair follows the Inclement Weather Policy (IWP) developed by the California Horse Racing Board, a policy that includes recommendations and requirements pertaining to the heat index, which is a combination of temperature, wind speed, and humidity. The IWP lists the heat index in steps, beginning at 130, the point at which some horses experience discomfort. The danger to horses increases at 150, then reaches a critical level at 180.
Although the heat index is not expected to reach 150 in Sacramento this weekend, so racing could have taken place provided horses were given plenty of water and other cooling techniques, management at Cal Expo in consultation with the CHRB and the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) elected to cancel racing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday out of an abundance of caution. Racing at the State Fair is now scheduled to commence on July 21.
This decision is a reflection of the prevailing attitude among other racetracks, horsemen, and equine veterinarians in the State whereby safety comes first, in cooperation with the CHRB. This team effort has helped reduce total equine fatalities by more than 50 percent over the last few years and reduced fatal injuries sustained while racing and training by one-third in the last year alone.
“The Board commends the State Fair and CARF for putting animal welfare first,“ said Scott Chaney, executive director of the CHRB.
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