PETA calls for Belmont Stakes to be postponed over air quality concerns from Canadian wildfire smoke

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Ongoing wildfires in Canada have blanketed the northeast of the U.S. with unhealthy smoke that has prompted a number of professional sports teams to postpone games over air quality concerns.

Now, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling on officials to postpone horse racing in New York ahead of the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, until its deemed safe.

A horse is seen in its stall prior to the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, 2023 in Elmont, New York. All training and racing on the track were canceled today due to the Canadian wildfires. Air pollution alerts were issued across the United States due to smoke from wildfires that have been burning in Canada for weeks. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced that all live racing at Belmont Park on Thursday was canceled "due to poor air quality conditions," which followed an earlier announcement that all practices that day had also been canceled. 

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"Safety is paramount as we navigate this unprecedented situation," NYRA CEO and President David O’Rourke said in a statement. 

"NYRA will actively monitor all available data and weather information as we work toward the resumption of training and racing both here at Belmont Park and at Saratoga Race Course. Based on current forecast models and consultation with our external weather services, we remain optimistic that we will see an improvement in air quality on Friday."

PETA issued a statement Wednesday calling for the cancelation of Thursday’s events, but PETA