This story has been updated from a previous version.
As smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to wreak havoc on the air quality in the New York metro area, one of the tentpole events of the horse racing calendar could be in jeopardy.
The Belmont Stakes, run in Belmont Park on Long Island, canceled live racing Thursday due to compromised air quality as the New York Racing Association continues to grapple with whether or not to run in the dangerous air.
Thursday afternoon, Elmont, New York, had an air quality designated as "unhealthy," as determined by the U.S. Air Quality Index.
With that in mind, it's hard to imagine putting the horses through a 1.5-mile race in those conditions. The Triple Crown finale is scheduled to run its 155th edition on Saturday.
MORE: Belmont Stakes post positions: Full draw & odds for the 2023 Triple Crown race
The Sporting News is tracking the latest updates on the Belmont Stakes, and whether or not it will ultimately be run.
Will the Belmont Stakes be canceled?
Several sporting events in the northeastern United States have been postponed due to smoke from Canadian wildfires compromising the air quality, including games at Yankee Stadium and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
The Belmont Stakes could well be next, with racing being called off Thursday.
Racing at Belmont Park was canceled and the Washington Nationals’ home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed Thursday due to poor air quality from wildfires in Canada.https://t.co/3djNIAkqkG
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) June 8, 2023
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also spoke on the status of the event, acknowledging the excitement around the race weekend and saying precautions have been implemented.
"We have instituted enhanced measures to protect the horses, the riders, and the spectators..." she said, per USA Today, "...If the air quality exceed 200 at the facility -- at any facility -- there will be no racing ... If the air quality is 150 to 200, only horses that pass an additional pre-race vet examination will be able to race."
Hochul added the hope was to run the race, but it will come down to those air quality measures.
Update: The Belmont Stakes will continue as scheduled as air quality conditions improve in New York, per a statement from the race:
"Following significant improvement in air quality conditions throughout New York state, and in consultation with the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that live racing will resume at Belmont Park today at 12:50 p.m.," the statement reads.
When is the 2023 Belmont Stakes?
The 2023 Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday, June 10.
It takes place in Elmont, New York's Belmont Park.
The post time is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET for the main event, on Fox. Fubo will also carry the event.
