​Racecourse organisers said they were taking extra precautions to keep the horses cool and hydrated during the 30C heat of the three-day festival. The Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk features three days of racing leading up to the internationally important July Cup on Saturday. The Met Office reported that temperatures at the course reached up to 31C on Friday, with expectations of high 20s over the weekend. Andrew Morris, the head of racing at Newmarket, stated: “We worked with both the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and our own veterinary team… we are incredibly happy with the provisions we have in place.”
Two weeks earlier, races at the course began earlier in the day due to an amber heat warning. Throughout the event, horses have been kept cool by being hosed down, given drinking water, and kept in shaded areas whenever possible. Before each race, the horses are held in a shaded pre-parade ring, and upon finishing, they are greeted with buckets of water—some for drinking, others to help douse the animals to cool them down. Colin Roberts, the senior veterinary officer at the BHA, explained that he assesses the horses as soon as they come off the course. He added: “What we look for, particularly in the heat, are signs of heat stress—when the heat has built up too much for them. They may appear dull, depressed, sometimes staggy, or even slightly aggressive.” If it becomes too hot, racing may be halted; a Met Office red warning would stop racing, while below that threshold the event can proceed with cooling precautions.
Thady Gosden noted that horses competing internationally often face even hotter conditions. Preparations for the meet begin the day before, according to the Newmarket trainer. He said: “Thoroughbreds, in general, are descended from Arabians, so they are accustomed to warm temperatures. It’s warm today, but not extreme, and racing internationally means they encounter hotter conditions elsewhere as well.” Gosden emphasized that animal welfare remains the top priority, and if it were compromised, racing would not go ahead. Some horses receive electrolytes—whether intravenously or orally the day before—and at the meet they are cooled with cold showers, fans, and demisters to maintain appropriate temperatures.
Morris reiterated that the three-day event carries international significance, with runners from as far away as Japan taking part. He said the meet went ahead after coordinating with the BHA to adhere to the hot weather policy. The article ends with a note about the policy and its role in deciding whether to proceed with the races.