Parx cancels Monday card; adds Hall of Fame Stakes to schedule

Parx Racing has canceled its Monday card in anticipation of hot weather that could prove dangerous for horses and riders as the Northeast heat wave continues.

According to Sam Elliott, the track's director of racing, the Monday forecast calls for a temperature of about 95 and a heat index of 104 in early afternoon, with the heat index crawling up to 106 later in the day.

"I thought we could be in trouble yesterday, but the humidity stayed in the 30s and it really wasn't too bad," Elliott said. "The humidity is supposed to be up over 50 percent Monday, which will make it feel much warmer."

Elliott said the early cancellation was made to alert trainers with horses entered on the card. Temperatures are supposed to moderate Tuesday; Parx is planning to run that day.

Elliott said the nine canceled races would be brought back over the coming week.

Hall of Fame Stakes added to schedule

Parx Racing has added the $100,000 Hall of Fame Stakes to its schedule for this year.

The Hall of Fame will be a five-furlong main-track sprint for 3-year-olds and up. It will be run Saturday, Sept. 17, a week before Parx holds its richest races of the year, the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and the $1 million Cotillion.

Last year, the Hall of Fame was added to the Parx schedule but had different conditions. In 2015, it was a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds and had a purse of $150,000.

"I wasn't happy with the race last year," Elliott said. "This is a niche division that I think might draw a good field."