“It’s hot, muggy. Very tiring and exhausting, nasty,” said trainer Ray Handal.

No matter how you choose to describe it, there’s no denying the hot temperatures at the Saratoga Race Course.

“It is the hottest summer I’ve ever been through here in Saratoga. Luckily, the horses have been handling it really well,” said Handal.

A head trainer for the past five years, Handal says it’s vital to take extra steps to keep thoroughbreds cool as they pace their way through the morning workouts.

“These horses are going out there and exerting a ton of energy,” said Handal.

Tactics for keeping horses cool and hydrated aren’t too different from those used by human athletes.

“On the really hot days, as soon as they get back from the track, we will hose them down just to cool them off,” said Handal.

They also rely on time in the shade under a nice cool breeze, while having plenty of ice at the ready.

“It is so hot and they are sweating so much and they are losing a lot of fluids,” said Handal.

Extra precautions are also taken by the New York Racing Association before and after each afternoon’s races.

“We have two on-call veterinarians every race day. On a day like today, they’ll be paying a little extra attention to any of those signs,” said Pat McKenna, NYRA communications director.

“After the race is done, the next day we will run a bag of vitamin fluids through them,” said Handal.

Handal says the extra steps taken on hot days is just part of the great care horsemen give their animals year-round.

“Everybody is out here trying to do the best possible to help them as much as possible,” said Handal.