Breeders' Cup week weather looks ideal; should be fast and firm both days
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Unlucky with the coronavirus – but lucky with the weather.
All indications are that conditions will be ideal when Keeneland hosts the 37th Breeders’ Cup this weekend without spectators. Despite this being a time of year in Kentucky when rain and/or cold are not uncommon, the forecast throughout this week calls for no precipitation, with sunshine and high temperatures of 66 being predicted for Friday and 72 for Saturday.
While the main track surely will be fast for the 14 BC races, the turf also figures to be firm – and fresh. Heavy rain during a period of several days (Oct. 26-29) soaked the Keeneland turf course to the extent that it still held considerable moisture as of Monday, when overnight temperatures dipped below freezing. But the steady warming phase should find the course in perfect shape for the weekend.
Keeneland ran 33 turf races during a 17-day fall meet that ran Oct. 2-24, but only two were run after Oct. 18 (one each on Oct. 22 and 23).
“We’ve stayed off the inside portion since the second week of our race meet, so the inside 20 feet look really good,” track superintendent Jim Pendergest said early Monday. “By Friday, we’re going to be in great shape. There’s a lot of moisture in it right now, but that’s going to go away as we get through the week, so we’ll probably be firm by the time we get to Friday.”
Weather also was not an overriding concern when Keeneland hosted its first Breeders’ Cup in 2015. The pandemic forced the decision in mid-September not to allow fans at the 2020 renewal, but the Breeders’ Cup followed up by granting Keeneland the 2022 running as an understandable do-over. Participating owners, breeders, essential personnel, and guests will be permitted entry this weekend amid strict pandemic protocols, with ontrack crowds for each day being estimated at 2,500 or a bit more.