Arlington Park changes post time due to heat

It’s clearly getting too hot out there for man or beast.

With approval from the Illinois Racing Board, Arlington Park track officials have decided move back the start of their thoroughbred racing card for Thursday.

After checking with other racing interests and the National Weather Service forecast, Arlington Park’s first post will start at 5 p.m. Thursday, a four-hour delay from its scheduled start, General Manager Tony Petrillo announced Wednesday.

The high temperature is expected to hit 100-degrees in the Chicago area Thursday.

“By starting our races at 5 p.m. on Thursday, we can avoid the worst of the heat,” Petrillo said. “The hour-by-hour forecast shows temperatures starting to fall by the late afternoon. That drop in temperature combined with the extra precautions that Arlington has implemented for hot weather creates a better situation for both the human and equine athletes as well as our fans.”

Thursday’s nine-race Value Day and Senior Day card was originally set for 1 p.m. Races are scheduled every 25 minutes and will be interspersed with live races from Maywood Park. The last live race at Arlington will go off before 8:30 p.m., and sunset is 8:28 p.m.

General admission is $6, with $4 for seniors 55 and older. The July 5 card is the first Thursday program of the season. Gates will open at the regular 11:15 a.m. time for those fans wishing to arrive early to bet races from tracks across the country.

Post time will revert to the regular 3 p.m. schedule for Friday’s Miller Lite Party in the Park program. Gates will open Friday at 1 p.m.

With temperatures expected to moderate by the weekend, post time will be the normal 1 p.m. for Saturday and Sunday. Gates will open both days at 11:15 a.m.