How weather conditions affect horse racing: rain, wind, and extreme temperatures

Horse racing isn’t an indoor sport. Competition takes place at outdoor racetracks that are, unsurprisingly, at the mercy of weather conditions.

Rain, wind, and extreme temperatures are three of the most common weather conditions affecting horse racing. Let’s explore how these conditions can impact race results or even curtail racing altogether:

How rain affects horse racing

The effect of rain varies depending on the type of racing surface utilized. Rain can turn a dirt track sloppy or muddy and even produce a track bias, which is when a particular lane of the racetrack (the inside versus the outside) or even a running style (on the lead or rallying from behind) is advantageous.

With a turf course, rain can soften the ground, leading to slower race times. Track biases can result from rain or a lack thereof. If the course gets too soft, turf races may be switched to a dirt or synthetic track to protect the turf course from damage.

Synthetic tracks are not typically affected by rain, though there can be exceptions.

Significant rainfall or thunderstorms may lead to the cancellation of racing for safety purposes.

How wind affects horse racing

Wind can influence the times of races and favor certain running styles. Imagine a sprint in which horses charge down the backstretch, negotiate one turn, and come down the homestretch. If there’s a headwind down the backstretch and a tailwind in the homestretch, the early part of the race may unfold slower than usual while the finish goes faster than expected.

The above scenario may also favor horses rallying from behind, since they’ll be shielded from the wind by pacesetters on the backstretch and aided by the tailwind as they rally in the homestretch.

Racing might be canceled on extremely windy days. This is particularly true in winter, when wind chill can exacerbate cold temperatures.

How extreme temperatures affect horse racing

Extreme temperatures can postpone or cancel racing. If temperatures are too cold or too hot, both horses and riders can be at risk for frostbite, heat exhaustion, etc.

On a subtler level, different horses are affected in different ways by hot or cold temperatures. A horse who prefers cold weather may perform better in the fall or winter than in summer. Analyzing past performances with this in mind may help you predict whether a horse will improve or regress as seasons shift and temperatures change.