By Emma Berry
As parts of Europe continue to be subjected to record temperatures, the large forest fire raging in the Gironde region of south-west France has forced the evacuation of all 370 horses in training at La Teste de Buch racecourse. Though the fire is several kilometres from the track and training centre, the horses have been moved to racecourses in Bordeaux and Mont de Marsan, while others have been given refuge at Haras de Saubouas, largely to protect them from inhaling toxic fumes from the blaze which has destroyed campsites and woodland across more than 45,000 acres along the Atlantic coast.
Celine Bobacher, communications manager for La Teste de Buch racecourse, told Jour de Galop, “The fire advanced so quickly and is now close to the racecourse. The strong fumes became a concern. The surrounding neighbourhoods have also been evacuated.”
La Teste de Buch had been scheduled to host race meetings on July 24 and 25. The fixture on Sunday, July 24 will be moved to Dieppe, which had been set to race on Monday. That fixture will now move to Tarbes, while Dax will host La Teste's second meeting, which has been postponed until Tuesday, July 26.
The heatwave has also meant an adjustment to race times during Vichy's week-long festival have been moved to avoid racing during the hottest part of the day. In England, five race meetings were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday following the British government's issuing of an extreme heat warning.
Trainers and their teams in parts of Britain where the temperature has been approaching 40 Celsius over the last two days have been exercising horses as early as 3.30am in order to beat the heat.
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