Hazardous weather and lightning events present risks to the exposed horse and human. The breadth of racing and training facilities coupled with the number of participants requires protocols be in place prior to a hazardous weather or lightning episode. Those potentially affected by lightning include jockeys, exercise riders, gate crew, officials, outriders, horses, participants in the outdoor paddock process, surface maintenance crews and spectators in the outdoor stands.
Insufficient weather protocols aggravate conflicts of life-safety vs business priorities. Negligent weather cancel/delay decision protocols for both training and racing activities compromise safety up to and possibly including loss of life.
A recent survey of North American weather protocols in horse racing indicate sporadic or nonexistent foreplanning. Industry adoption of proven, readily available weather and lightning detection technologies removes subjectivity from the decision process.
The Racing Officials Accreditation Program endorses the following ARCI Model Rules concerning lightning and weather events.
ARCI-014-025 Operations
- Track management shall develop a hazardous weather and lightning protocol approved by the commission.
- The Commission shall designate the personnel responsible for immediately investigating any known impending threat of dangerous weather conditions to determine if conditions exist which warrant delay and/or cancellation of a performance and/or the notification to the public of such threatening weather conditions. The first priority of all decisions made shall be the well-being and safety of all persons and animals.
- The stewards shall commence a race delay when lightning is detected within 8 miles radius of the racetrack and remain in effect until a minimum of 30 minutes has passed since the last strike is observed within an eight mile radius.
- A written report of any such incident shall be filed within 72 hours to the Commission designee by the highest-ranking association official.
ARCI-007-020 Facilities And Equipment
Lightning
- All tracks shall implement or subscribe to a commercial, real-time lightning detection service that has been independently and objectively verified. The lightning detection service must include strike distance notifications enabling lightning delay decision-making. The detection service must be available to the stewards at all times and to designated officials during training hours.
- Track management shall designate a responsible official for monitoring lightning conditions during training hours. When lightning is detected within 8 miles radius of the racetrack, the designated official shall order suspension of all outdoor training activities and alert participants to seek shelter. Outdoor training activities may resume 30 minutes after the last lightning strike within an 8 mile radius as indicated by the lightning detection service.
- Track management shall designate a responsible official for enforcing any training delay.
Stewards must be knowledgeable on local lightning and weather protocols established by their regulatory authority and/or by the racing association. Where lightning and weather protocols are not defined, advocate for adopting standards consistent with the ARCI Model Rules.
The installment of a certified lightning detection device and/or a subscription to a commercial, real-time lightning detection service is essential. The Board of Stewards should be the final authority on lightning and weather cancel/delay decisions. However, this process may be coordinated with designated representative of track management, the jockey colony and the horsemen’s representative organization.
The established criteria for a lightning delay during racing and training activities includes halting outdoor activities for 30 minutes following any lightning strike within an 8 mile radius of the racetrack or training facilities. Subsequent strikes within the 8 mile radius reset the delay again to 30 minutes. Activities may commence only after 30 minutes clear of any lightning strikes within the 8 mile radius.
During racing hours the stewards must dictate the lightning or weather cancel/delay order as well as the signal to resume activities. During training hours association personnel such as clockers and outriders may be tasked with clearing the track for lightning events.
Be aware that lightning may be present within the established 8 mile radius even if unobserved by the eye and despite sunny or otherwise calm conditions. It is best practice to rely on proven, third party lightning detection hardware or subscription services.
A few lightning services and apps: