For 2nd straight day, Canterbury cancels Sunday card due to heat

For the second day in a row, Canterbury Park racing officials have canceled horse racing due to projected heat indexes in excess of 105 for Sunday evening’s card.

Canterbury also canceled racing on Saturday with the heat index reaching 109 in Shakopee and originally rescheduled Sunday’s program from 1 pm to 5 pm. However, the forecast still projects a dangerous level of heat well into the evening forcing another cancellation.

The three $50,000 stakes that were part of Saturday’s card, the Canterbury Derby, Lady Canterbury and Brooks Fields will be run Saturday, June 28. Officials intend to add a make-up date on Wednesday, July 2, pending approval from the executive director of the Minnesota Racing Commission, to make up for Sunday's cancellation.

Basset hound races that were part of Sunday's family day activities at the track have been rescheduled for Sunday, July 29.

National Weather Service forecasters predicted a high near 97 on Sunday. An extreme heat warning was in effect through 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday.

Canterbury is not the only track whose Sunday card has been affected by the heat wave. Woodbine postponed Sunday's card until a first post of 4 p.m. EDT and Hawthorne has canceled Sunday's card.