Delaware Park has cancelled live racing on Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3, with extreme heat also forcing earlier post times and a shortened Independence Day card.
The Stanton track has adjusted its holiday-week programme after forecasts for severe heat in the region. Wednesday’s nine-race card on July 1 will now begin at 11am local time, with the final race scheduled for 3pm.
Saturday’s July 4 meeting has also been reduced to six races.
First post is now 10am, with the final thoroughbred race due off at 1.30pm, although the three exhibition Exotic Animal Races remain scheduled for noon, 1pm and 2pm.
Heat Forces Welfare-Led Changes
The decision makes Delaware Park the latest North American venue to reshape a race week around high temperatures, with welfare and operational concerns pushing the main programme away from the hottest windows.
The revised schedule was confirmed in a Delaware Park update carried by Paulick Report, which listed the new race times and the two cancelled cards.
For horsemen and bettors, the immediate impact is simple: there will be no live racing at Delaware Park on July 2 or July 3, and the remaining cards will be concentrated earlier in the day.
The change also leaves trainers and racegoers working around a compressed week, with Delaware Park prioritising reduced exposure during the hottest part of the afternoon.
