5 Midwest tracks cancel racing because of poor air quality

Thistledown, Hawthorne, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Belterra Park and Presque Isle Downs canceled their Wednesday races because of poor air quality.

According to AirNow.gov, the air-quality index reached unhealthful levels at all five locations. It was 254 late Wednesday morning at North Randall, Ohio, where Thistledown is based. It was 208 late Wednesday morning at Stickney, Ill., home of Hawthorne. It reached 202 at Horseshoe Indy's Shelbyville, Ind., location. It was 199 in Cincinnati, where Belterra is located. Erie, Pa., the home of Presque Isle, registered a reading of 175.

According to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, if the AQI gets to 150, racetracks “may limit training to jogging and/or jogging and gallops only and be prepared to take further action if conditions worsen.”

Under the HISA guidelines, an air-quality reading of 175 requires tracks to to “restrict activity at the track, including, but not limited to, canceling live racing, canceling official workouts and prohibiting galloping, breezing or anything more strenuous than a jog.”

Horseshoe Indianapolis said that several of the races on its program Wednesday, which included nine Thoroughbred races and one quarter-horse event, will be offered as an option for participants Monday. An early start of 1:20 p.m. EDT will kick off the extended racing program featuring 10 Thoroughbred events and four quarter-horse trials expected to be completed at 8 p.m.

Jim Miller, director of racing for Hawthorne, said in a Twitter post that racing is expected to resume at the track Thursday, when the AQI is forecast to be in the 100-150 range.

A Twitter post from Thistledown said races originally drawn for Wednesday would be rescheduled, but no date was mentioned.