Belmont Stakes 2011: Nasty Weather Still in Store for Third Leg of Triple Crown

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Rain and Thunderstorms Could Hit 2011 Belmont Stakes

There are plenty of variables that go into handicapping horse races.

First and foremost, you have the horses themselves, who can be pacesetters, closers, or just plain duds. After that, you have things like the distance of the race, surface, posts, jockeys, pedigree, and so on and so on.

However, the biggest factor of all might just be the weather on any given day. And given the current weather forecast for Elmont, New York, this is especially true of the 2011 Belmont Stakes.

According Weather.com, Saturdays' Triple Crown race at Belmont Park is due to be hit with rain, and thunderstorms are expected throughout the morning.

But wait, it gets worse. Rain and thunderstorms are also expected to rock the area throughout the night.

MUST READ: The 10 Greatest Belmont Stakes Winners

So how would this weather change things in regards to tomorrow's race?

Well, quite a bit, actually. After all, the track is all but assured to be a mess. Conventional wisdom suggests that this favors speedy horses like Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, not closers like Kentucky Derby Animal Kingdom.

It's not all about those two, of course. A report in the Miami Herald pointed out that only half of this year's 12-horse field has experience running on a wet surface. Only two horses -- Ruler On Ice and Monzon -- have won on a wet surface, and both of them are longshots.

Things will change even more if the rain ceases falling in the hours leading up to the race. If the track is drying, it will be stickier, which will cause any and all front-runners to tire a little easier. That's when a closer like Animal Kingdom will have a slight leg up.

Basically, if you haven't placed your bets yet, it would be a good idea to hold off until the last possible minute. Keep an eye on the sky while you're playing the waiting game.

Coverage of the Belmont Stakes starts at 5:00 pm ET on NBC. The race is slated to start at 6:30.

Most recent updates:

• Belmont Stakes 2011: Will No. 12 Post Cause Problems for Shackleford?
• Belmont Stakes 2011: Trainer May Root for Master of Hounds from Across the Pond
• Belmont Stakes 2011: Ruler On Ice Will Be a Late Arrival to Belmont Park
• View all updates

What is the duplicate article?

Why is this article offensive?

Where is this article plagiarized from?

Why is this article poorly edited?