Monmouth plans heat protocols for Haskell card

Monmouth Park will have protocols for extreme weather in place Saturday on the Haskell Invitational card. The protocols are intended to help both horses and humans deal with high temperatures and humidity from the ongoing heat wave.

The protocols include having extra emergency medical technicians on hand to help people affected by the heat; having ice containers positioned throughout the track and along the path where the horses walk to the paddock; having additional hoses accessible for horses before and after the races; and having a misting system in the paddock.

Additionally, post parades will be shortened if necessary and water trucks will be equipped to hose down any horses in distress on the track.

Races will be pushed back until later in the afternoon when temperatures will be lower, if necessary.

The Haskell Invitational is scheduled to go off at 5:47 p.m. Eastern and be televised live on NBC from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., but post times will be altered even if it impacts NBC being able to show the race.

Monmouth, which is located several miles from the Atlantic Ocean, is in a better position than inland racetracks in the region because of the ocean’s tempering effect.

The Weather Channel’s Saturday forecast for Oceanport, N.J., calls for humid conditions and a high temperature of 94.