Odds to favor wet weather for 150th Belmont Stakes making for a soggy Triple Crown
A storm seems destined to bring rain to Belmont Park, New York, to complete a soggy third leg of the 2018 Triple Crown.
"The storm will be the remnants of a complex of thunderstorms that is scheduled to affect part of the lower Great Lakes region from late Friday and Friday night," according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.
"Sometimes, these systems fall apart by the next day, but on occasion, they may keep rolling along."
While an increase or decrease in the forward speed of the storm may still occur, at this time there is the risk of rain for at least part of the afternoon and evening hours on Saturday. There may also be thunder and lightning.
"Belmont has a sandy consistency to the track and drains very well," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson.
"In order for sloppy conditions to occur for the 2018 Belmont Stakes, it would have to pour right before or during the race," Thompson said.
This type of weather pattern, which involves thunderstorm complexes, has the potential to bring drenching downpours and urban flooding.
Fans heading to Belmont Park on Long Island, New York, should allow some extra time to get there and be patient when heading home as one or both parts of the trip may be wet. Those that will be attending should consider taking a rain slicker and waterproof shoes.
If it rains during the race or right up to post time, this will be the third of the three Triple Crown races this year that were run in wet conditions.
Both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness were run in the mud and the rain in 2018. The 2018 Kentucky Derby was the wettest on record with more than 3 inches of rain. Rain fell every day for a week leading up to and including the Preakness at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Justify with Mike Smith atop wins the the 143rd Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico race course, Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Baltimore. Horses, riders and fans may face wet weather at the 150th annual Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York, on Saturday, June 9. The date marks the 45th anniversary of Secretariat's record-setting victory at Belmont Park. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
As we have seen, Justify seems to handle sloppy conditions well.
If Justify wins in the rain, not only will he be the 13th Triple Crown winner, he will be the first horse to win all three Triple Crown races in the rain and slop.
One triple crown winner that pulled out a victory in the rain at Belmont was Omaha in 1935. However, there were good to fast racing conditions at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes that year.
In 1948, Triple Crown winner, Citation, won in rainy and sloppy conditions at the Derby but had dry and fast racing conditions for the Preakness and Belmont that year.
