Forecasters: Drought may be interrupted by Breeders’ Cup rain

Except for a few frosty mornings and cool afternoons, Keeneland has been downright balmy during the fall meet. What the federal government has labeled as a moderate drought for most of Kentucky has baked the main track and hardened the ground under the turf course.

That was expected to change this week, and one long-range forecast said it could be a wet Breeders’ Cup come Nov. 4 and 5 with as much as a 44 percent chance of rain.

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Workout schedules might be impacted first by rain during the next two days. The National Weather Service predicted a 90 percent chance of showers between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday EDT. The rain was forecast to begin as soon as Tuesday afternoon and continue until breakfast time Wednesday.

The government forecast added a 20-40 percent chance of showers Friday through Monday with the temperature peaking in the mid to upper 60s.

Looking ahead to Breeders’ Cup week, The Weather Channel said there was a 44 percent chance of morning showers for Friday, Nov. 4, and a 35 percent chance on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Friday high was expected to be 66 and the Saturday high 58.

Those conditions would be in stark contrast to the past three days, when the temperature reached the upper 70s in Lexington, Ky. The only measurable rain in the past month was Oct. 12, when 0.17 inches fell, according to the National Weather Service.