Horses can handle the heat but predicted scorching temperatures have led to the abandonment of a NSW country meeting.

With 44-degree heat forecast, Saturday's race meeting at Walgett in the state's far northwest has been called off with horse and jockey welfare in mind.

"It would seem futile to conduct a meeting - the temperature is going to be very extreme," Racing NSW's chief steward Ray Murrihy said on Thursday.

Level-two heat protocols will be employed during meetings at Hawkesbury in Sydney's northwest on Friday and Hay in the state's southern districts on Saturday.

This means horses are only on the course for one hour, mounting yard parades are shortened and extra veterinarians will be at hand.

Murrihy said horses adapt to handling hot weather, while unseasonable conditions such as heat and humidity in early spring were just as likely to distress them.

But a safety-first approach is adopted at racecourses.

"We're pretty well set up to cater for hot weather," Murrihy said.

"We have mist sprays in the stalls and ice in the mounting yards."

All other race meetings in NSW would go ahead as planned, Murrihy said.

Meetings are scheduled on Sunday and Monday at Grafton and Scone respectively, where high temperatures are also expected.