Prairie Meadows cancels due to heat, humidity

Prairie Meadows canceled its Tuesday race card because of the heat.

The races, which were scheduled to beging at 3:30 p.m. Central, were canceled shortly before the first race after jockeys voted not to ride. The temperature at the time was 97 degrees with a 111-degree heat index.

"Even very well-conditioned racehorses, with the heat index this high, how can you feel comfortable asking them for everything they have to stay on their feet?" jockey Ken Tohill was quoted as saying in a Prairie Meadows press release..

Director of racing Derron Heldt said Prairie Meadows would not make up the lost card but may card extra races to on future programs.