Forecasters are predicting rain for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
LOUISVILLE, May 1 (UPI) — Weather forecasters keep throwing curveballs at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The forecast for race day, Saturday, has gone from rain to sun and back to rain. And the various prognosticators can’t even agree.
As of early Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service predicted “showers likely” with thunderstorms “also possible after 3 p.m.,” citing a 60 percent chance of precipitation. The Weather Channel listed a 100 percent chance of rain and agreed about the chance of late-afternoon thunderstorms. Accuweather called for nearly an inch of rain, with a 24 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Wednesday morning was just about perfect on the Churchill Downs backstretch with lots of activity and no drama for the 20 contenders for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
There was a little theater, though, as Derby favorite Omaha Beach and his trainer, Richard Mandella, greeted local elementary school students who visited the barn area. Omaha Beach, friendlier than many Thoroughbreds, lowered his head among them and nibbled on one student’s hair.
