Preakness weather: Showers linger in final hour before race

Baltimore

On an already wet Saturday, rain returned just before 5 p.m. EDT and lingered into the final hour before post time for Preakness 2024 at Pimlico.

The National Weather Service predicted a 90 percent chance of more showers before 8 p.m. EDT, which is about one hour after the $2 million race. It said new rain probably would not amount to more than a tenth of an inch.

The main track was downgraded by Pimlico management to muddy and sealed for the Preakness after being labeled as good for the first 12 races on the card. Rain that began at 5:30 a.m. EDT tapered off by the first post at 10:30 a.m. Other than some off-and-on spurts, it stayed away until late Saturday afternoon.

The turf course, which had two early races removed from it, started good and was downgraded to soft shortly after noon, according to track management.

All day Equibase called the main track muddy and sealed and the turf course soft.

Five of the eight expected Preakness starters have run over an off track before with only Mugatu, Tuscan Gold and Imagination facing it for the first time. Of the five who have started over a wet track, none missed the board in an off-track start. Mystik Dan, Uncle Heavy and Seize the Grey all were winners over wet tracks.

The Preakness is scheduled as the 13th of 14 races Saturday at Pimlico with the post time set for 7:01 p.m. EDT.