With only a 4% chance of rain in Baltimore on May 21, the Preakness Stakes (G1) may not be able to avoid Mother Nature’s wrath.
Forecasts are calling for mid-90s temperatures in Pimlico racetrack for the Preakness on Saturday and May 20 for Black-Eyed Susan Day, creating the potential to make it easier for athletes to ride on the track and fans who would otherwise clog the aging facility .
Based on weather.com As of noon on May 18, the highest in Baltimore on Saturday will be 96 degrees, which, together with 49% humidity, will produce a heat index close to 105 degrees. Their forecast for Friday shows a peak of 92 degrees with a humidity of 56%.
The National Weather Service lists the peak as 94 Saturday and 89 Friday.
Clouds reflect from the windows of the clubhouse at Pimlico đua Racecourse
“Hopefully that’s to our advantage,” said Saffie Joseph Jr., Florida-based starter trainer Preakness Skippylongstocking a 20-1 shot in the morning, who started his career in the wet race Gulfstream Park in Florida last summer. “He’s used to the heat and has been running on very hot days. That’s normal in Florida. We were able to take advantage of any respite we could on Saturday.”
Simplify a 6-1 hit in the Preakness coached by Antonio Sano, gained more experience as a Florida hybrid of Not this time who has been exposed to heat and humidity for most of his 3-year-old life.
“He was born and raised in Florida,” said Sano’s son and assistant coach Alessandro. “Ever since he was a kid, he’s been exposed to the sun and hot days. He’s been running on hot days in Gulfstream in the summer. He’s broken his maidenhood. himself on a very hot day in the Gulfstream, so he shouldn’t have bothered about it. Having done that successfully in that kind of weather before gives us a little more confidence.”
Tim Yakteen, who trains in California Armagnac is a veteran of hot days on the West Coast and says a proper water supply will be crucial during potentially oppressive conditions.
“You have to make sure your horse is well-hydrated and provide a good climate for it by pulling it down and keeping it wet. That’s the right thing to do,” he said. “There’s no magic to it. It’s all about how each horse is doing in the weather, which is something you can see from its previous performances.”
Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas said he’s uncertain how the weather will affect the Longines winner Kentucky Oaks (G1). Secret Vow in Preakness.
“We’ll have to see,” he said. “She hasn’t raced in such heat before, but we’ll try to get through it. Everyone will too,” he said.
Lukas said the heat is often harsher for horses that tend to train before their races.
“It will affect all of our horses but I would say it may affect some more than others, especially those that cause their adrenaline base to go high,” he said. a little bit. “Depending on the humidity, it can slightly affect the amount of oxygen.”
Almost all nine Preakness beginners have spent their winters in warmer southern or western climates, the only exception being second pick 7-2 Vote early . The Chad Brown-trained wooden memorial stake was introduced by the Resorts World Casino (G2) runner-up wintering in frigid New York, and all three of his careers began at Aqueduct race track in December, February and April.
“I can’t predict how it will affect Early Voting,” Brown said. “All you can do is keep the horses hydrated and cooled with water and things like that. Unfortunately, especially for the horses, to have an honorable race and a big weekend for everyone and facing such oppressive conditions. We just have to hope the forecasts are wrong.”
Like the riders in Florida and California, 1/ST Racing officials have experience with hot, humid days. In addition to owning the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Pimlico and Laurel Park1 / ST Racing’s track network includes Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita . Park in California.
Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing, part of the Stronach Group. “We monitor all the conditions. We make sure we have plenty of water nearby to attend to any horses if they have heat problems. So that’s really a standard issue. bag.”
Craig Fravel
While Fravel hopes these forecasts are wrong, having a few days to prepare for it gives Pimlico workers and officials time to prepare for the worst.
“We will check with all the authorities on backup generators and air conditioners,” he said. “There will be more water around and places where people can stay in the shade. There will be more room inside the building if they need to be inside rather than out in the sun.”
While the clubhouse and courtyard chalets are air-conditioned or protected from the sun, potential hot spots would be the courtyard, which will feature Infield Fest featuring electronic artists Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, DJ Frank Walker and rapper Moneybagg Yo, and the rows of roofless apron seats basically stretch from column three sixteen to the beginning of the first turn.
In 2019, extreme temperatures in Monmouth Park On the day Haskell forced the track to shorten the card and halted the race for almost five hours and moved the post time for tier 1 stakes to 8:12pm. But Fravel said he doesn’t anticipate any changes to the 14-race card that will begin at 10:30 a.m. when temperatures will be slightly cooler.
“I wouldn’t think so based on what we know,” Fravel said of the possible tag delay and Preakness, which is slated to air at 7:01 p.m. on national television on NBC.
While there’s certainly a chance that another weather system could brighten the weekend’s outlook, Fravel, who grew up in Baltimore, hopes Maryland residents will be able to adapt to the conditions.
“I think people in Baltimore are used to temperatures around 90 degrees,” he said.
