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Race has been abandoned because so many horses have suffered from heat exhaustion today [and there has been one fatality]. I’m not questioning the decision but confused as to why it’s happening, given that it’s warm today but not necessarily warmer than it should be for this time of year.
Well, it’s the hottest April day since 1949 and Summer has followed Winter with no Spring so horses have not had the time to acclimatise. A staying Chase in the conditions would be too risky. At first I wondered why the 3.50 couldn’t have been run at 6.10, however, the temperature will have barely dropped by then evidently.
I like that they have been proactive in this matter, there is no air about to naturally cool them down and as we have gone from wet wintery unlike spring condition straight to the hottest day of the year it makes sense to call an audible in this way for the longest race of the meeting.
I just hope that they also announced to the crowd not to be concerned that the horses were not returning back to winners enclosure after the races and were instead been watered down on the course and then led back to the stables directly.
On way back from course now. It is unseasonably hot. Temp not dropped by that much now. Hope the rest of the horses make it back safely. Maybe moving races back might have help. Definitely saw another horse struggling in the heat
It got up to 27C (81F)in York today which is hot even by mid-summer standards. It’s also been humid and virtually flat-calm which hasn’t helped
I shed my winter coat and long-johns for the first time this year and have been gardening all day. Found the heat debilitating, sweating pints and felt light-headed at times; so, given that I normally function adequately in heat, there might be something in time being required to acclimatize from cold to heat and can understand the horses at Cheltenham getting heat-stressed
However, I’m sure the spuds I planted today have appreciated the warm bed I made for them
They should have had some cool mist sprays to assist with the wash down. Aintree have this as standard after the National and perhaps it is time they were made the misters available as standard practice to racecourses during the heat. When the event horses are getting ready for Olympics or Championships in very hot climates they are cantered in rugs to get them used to working in heat and acclimatise. It was a good decision.
While totally agreeing with the decision to abandon the Cheltenham race have to agree with what Chris Gordon said after training a winner at Fontwell on Friday. Should horses really be running over any distance if jockeys are instructed to dismount immediately passing the post and are deemed not capable of walking an additional 100 yards to the winners enclosure?
Gordon quite rightly told his jockey to get back on board and ride it into the winners enclosure, the horse looked fresh as a daisy.
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