'Fastest two minutes in sports' could be slowed by rain this weekend
Wet, sloppy weather could be a wildcard during the Kentucky Derby as the hunt for the triple crown commences at Churchill Downs.
By
Mary Gilbert, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published May 3, 2022 12:01 PM EDT
|
Updated May 7, 2022 9:04 AM EDT
Kentucky Derby entrant Epicenter works out in the rain at Churchill Downs Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Will the event known as "the fastest two minutes in sports" be slowed down just a bit by weather this weekend?
One of the biggest events in the sport of horse racing will get underway this weekend as riders take to the track at the iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby.
As AccuWeather meteorologists accurately predicted earlier this week, the Derby's sister race, the Kentucky Oaks, featured muddy track conditions late Friday afternoon as a result of a soaking rain in the Louisville metro area.
The steadiest rain has since exited the region in time for Derby Day, and forecasters say the overall outlook for the highly anticipated race looks promising.
"Lingering low clouds and occasional drizzle during the morning hours should give way to dry weather for the afternoon in the hours leading up to post time at 6:57 p.m. EDT," AccuWeather Meteorologist Reneé Duff said.
Track conditions will be in much better shape than if the rain had lingered into much of Saturday, a scenario forecasters were closely monitoring earlier this week.
The track at Churchill Downs is generally described as dirt, but it is actually a mixture of river sand, silt and clay, according to NPR. Despite this heartier mixture, it is still subject to the whims of wet weather.
But what exactly are the best racing conditions for venues like Churchill Downs?
“Ideally, you’re looking for a day with sunshine and a fast track for the Derby," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and horse-racing aficionado Brian Thompson explained. In a race with 20 horses, a wet, sloppy track can put horses toward the back of the pack at somewhat of a disadvantage because of all the mud getting thrown up from the horses in front of them.”
The most recent Derby impacted by wet weather and a sloppy track occurred on May 4, 2019, when 0.34 of an inch of rain fell in the afternoon and early evening, according to climate data from the National Weather Service office in Louisville. The Derby of 2018 was even wetter, with over 3 inches of rainfall recorded on May 5.
Kentucky Derby entrant Code of Honor is taken for a morning run at Churchill Downs Friday, May 3, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
“The dirt track at Churchill will dry out pretty quickly now that the rain has stopped, so chances are the track will be fast by Derby time," Thompson said.
This may be a different story for the turf track that is housed within the 1-mile oval of its more-famous dirt counterpart.
“Moisture can linger on the turf longer, so the turf course could end up a bit softer Saturday for some of the races leading up to the Derby," Thompson said. "This typically helps European horses, who are more used to running on softer grass.”
As far as what horses may have the advantage should Mother Nature target the Louisville area, Thompson says it can be tough to determine.
“Derby horses only race a handful of times before getting to Churchill Downs, so it’s not always easy to see who will benefit from a wet track. In fact, 13 out of 20 of the horses in this year’s Derby have never raced on a wet track," Thompson specified.
"Three of the horses have won on a wet track, including the two favorites, Epicenter and Zandon.”
For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
Report a Typo
News / Sports
'Fastest two minutes in sports' could be slowed by rain this weekend
Wet, sloppy weather could be a wildcard during the Kentucky Derby as the hunt for the triple crown commences at Churchill Downs.
By Mary Gilbert, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published May 3, 2022 12:01 PM EDT | Updated May 7, 2022 9:04 AM EDT
Kentucky Derby entrant Epicenter works out in the rain at Churchill Downs Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Will the event known as "the fastest two minutes in sports" be slowed down just a bit by weather this weekend?
One of the biggest events in the sport of horse racing will get underway this weekend as riders take to the track at the iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby.
As AccuWeather meteorologists accurately predicted earlier this week, the Derby's sister race, the Kentucky Oaks, featured muddy track conditions late Friday afternoon as a result of a soaking rain in the Louisville metro area.
The steadiest rain has since exited the region in time for Derby Day, and forecasters say the overall outlook for the highly anticipated race looks promising.
"Lingering low clouds and occasional drizzle during the morning hours should give way to dry weather for the afternoon in the hours leading up to post time at 6:57 p.m. EDT," AccuWeather Meteorologist Reneé Duff said.
Track conditions will be in much better shape than if the rain had lingered into much of Saturday, a scenario forecasters were closely monitoring earlier this week.
The track at Churchill Downs is generally described as dirt, but it is actually a mixture of river sand, silt and clay, according to NPR. Despite this heartier mixture, it is still subject to the whims of wet weather.
But what exactly are the best racing conditions for venues like Churchill Downs?
“Ideally, you’re looking for a day with sunshine and a fast track for the Derby," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and horse-racing aficionado Brian Thompson explained. In a race with 20 horses, a wet, sloppy track can put horses toward the back of the pack at somewhat of a disadvantage because of all the mud getting thrown up from the horses in front of them.”
The most recent Derby impacted by wet weather and a sloppy track occurred on May 4, 2019, when 0.34 of an inch of rain fell in the afternoon and early evening, according to climate data from the National Weather Service office in Louisville. The Derby of 2018 was even wetter, with over 3 inches of rainfall recorded on May 5.
Kentucky Derby entrant Code of Honor is taken for a morning run at Churchill Downs Friday, May 3, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
“The dirt track at Churchill will dry out pretty quickly now that the rain has stopped, so chances are the track will be fast by Derby time," Thompson said.
This may be a different story for the turf track that is housed within the 1-mile oval of its more-famous dirt counterpart.
“Moisture can linger on the turf longer, so the turf course could end up a bit softer Saturday for some of the races leading up to the Derby," Thompson said. "This typically helps European horses, who are more used to running on softer grass.”
As far as what horses may have the advantage should Mother Nature target the Louisville area, Thompson says it can be tough to determine.
“Derby horses only race a handful of times before getting to Churchill Downs, so it’s not always easy to see who will benefit from a wet track. In fact, 13 out of 20 of the horses in this year’s Derby have never raced on a wet track," Thompson specified.
"Three of the horses have won on a wet track, including the two favorites, Epicenter and Zandon.”
Continue reading:
For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
Report a Typo