Churchill Downs cancels Wednesday racing because of heat

Wednesday’s eight-race program at Churchill Downs has been cancelled because of excessive heat in the Louisville area.

A National Weather Service excessive heat warning for Louisville remains in effect until Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT. Heat index values of 105 to 109 are forecasted for Wednesday.

Cancellations of races at Churchill Downs because of weather conditions are rare. Wednesday’s cancellation was the 22nd in track history and only the second related to extreme heat, joining June 28, 2012.

Racing at Churchill Downs is scheduled to resume Thursday at 5 p.m. EDT, although track officials will continue to monitor the forecast. Any decision about cancellations in extreme weather conditions is made through consultation with Churchill Downs Inc.'s equine medical director, track management and regulatory officials. Many factors, including temperature, humidity and wind speeds, are evaluated to ensure the safety and well-being of human and equine athletes.

Simulcast wagering also has been cancelled Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

Guests may exchange pre-purchased tickets for another comparable race day this year. Ticket exchanges can be made at any Churchill Downs box office location throughout the live racing season. Guests who ordered tickets through Ticketmaster online may visit help.ticketmaster.com for order support.