Louisiana Downs cancels Saturday program due to heat

Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has canceled its Saturday program due to an extreme heat advisory, according to both track officials and horsemen. The forecast for Saturday is a high of 106 degrees, according to The Weather Channel.

The cancellation comes a day after Lone Star Park near Dallas, which is about three hours from Louisiana Downs, called off the final three dates of its meet due to severe heat. The Texas Racing Commission’s chief veterinarian and its state stewards recommended the cancellation for the safety of participating jockeys and horses, according to an official with the agency. The forecast for the Dallas area for Saturday is 109 degrees, according to The Weather Channel, and first post was to have been 2:35 p.m. Central.

First post at Louisiana Downs was scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Central on Saturday. A notice from the track stated the decision to cancel was made for the safety of the jockeys and horses. The track expects to resume racing Monday.

Fair Meadows in Tulsa on Friday night pushed back first post about an hour and a half due to an extreme heat advisory, according to both racing officials and horsemen.

Mary Rampellini