Due to “significant improvement in air quality conditions,” live racing at Belmont Park will resume ahead of Saturday’s concluding leg of the Triple Crown race, according to racing officials in New York on Friday.
Following the cancellation of Thursday’s racing and training at the racecourse due to air quality concerns brought on by the Canadian wildfire smoke blanketing the northeast, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) jointly released a statement to announce the decision to resume racing and training.
On June 8, 2023, in Elmont, New York, Belmont Park will host the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes. Due to the wildfires in Canada, today’s track workouts and competitions were all cancelled.Due to smoke from wildfires that have been burning in Canada for weeks, air pollution alerts have been issued throughout the United States. (Getty Images/Al Bello)
To guarantee that the environment is safe for race competitors and spectators this weekend, organisers said in a news release that they would continue to actively monitor air quality conditions and forecasts.
The announcement comes in response to PETA’s calls to halt racing until it is determined to be safe for the horses.
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Prior to the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, 2023 in Elmont, New York, horses can be seen outside their stable. Due to the wildfires in Canada, today’s track workouts and competitions were all cancelled.Due to smoke from wildfires that have been burning in Canada for weeks, air pollution alerts have been issued throughout the United States. (Getty Images/Al Bello)
The Belmont Stakes may be postponed on Saturday if the air quality index rises above 200, the EPA’s threshold for extremely harmful air for all people, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday.
Only horses that pass a second pre-race veterinary inspection will be allowed to compete if the air quality is between 150 and 200, Hochul added.
Before the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, 2023 in Elmont, New York, a horse is seen in its stall. Due to the wildfires in Canada, today’s track workouts and competitions were all cancelled. Due to smoke from wildfires that have been burning in Canada for weeks, air pollution alerts have been issued throughout the United States. (Getty Images/Al Bello)
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Long Island still had air quality health advisories in force, with an AQI of 120, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecast for New York State on Friday morning.
