Race Day Is Hot and Smoky

It was the hottest day in the 20-year history of the Breeders’ Cup, with the temperature at Santa Anita reaching 99 degrees.

Making the day even muggier, smoke from wildfires about 30 miles to the east obscured the San Gabriel Mountains, which are a backdrop for the track.

Several horses, including Filly and Mare Turf winner Islington and Juvenile third-place finisher Chapel Royal, were treated with blankets normally used for human burn victims.

The Hydroweave blankets are soaked in water and retain cold, said Dr. Celeste Kunz, a member of the Breeders’ Cup veterinary team.

Smoke from fires in the San Bernardino Mountain foothills was fanned into the basin by Santa Ana winds.