Rain could change odds for Saturday's Kentucky Derby

Wet, sloppy weather could be a wildcard during the Kentucky Derby as the hunt for the triple crown commences at Churchill Downs.

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 jockeys, horses and spectators prepare for the hotly anticipated event, AccuWeather forecasters say Mother Nature may shake up the odds this weekend.

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)
"There’s a traffic jam setting up in the atmosphere later this week, and that will slow the forward progress of a storm system moving through the Ohio Valley around the time of the Kentucky Derby festivities," AccuWeather Meteorologist Reneé Duff explained.

While the Derby itself lasts just two minutes, the anticipation for the event remains high throughout the year and gives way to an entire weekend of festivities. The threat of sloppy weather raises serious concerns for competitors, fans and ground crews alike.

"It’s looking nearly certain that a thorough soaking is in store for the region Thursday night into Friday ahead of the Derby’s sister race, the Kentucky Oaks," Duff cautioned.