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Just like with football, weather can have a significant impact on horse racing. When it comes to betting on the 2009 Kentucky Derby, one of the most important components is the weather and which horses run best in certain conditions..
Preliminary forecasts suggest that the best chance of rain will be around mid afternoon, approximately two to three hours prior to the start of the Derby, but earlier races could be impacted.
Track officials say any rain that does fall won't change plans or rules.
"Unfortunately, as we inch closer to Derby Day, the forecast looks more grim," says Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com. "By Friday morning it was starting to look like a complete rain out on Saturday."
A 40 percent chance of potentially severe thunderstorms Friday night would help to muddy up the track. More steady rain chances increase beginning around noon Saturday and continuing throughout the day right up through the race with a 70 percent likelihood.
"It seems almost inevitable that rain will occur at some point leading into this race and close enough to impact it," Shapiro said.
So when it comes to betting on the 2009 Kentucky Derby, which contenders are most likely to handle a muddy track better than others?
Dunkirk, trained by Todd Pletcher, made his first trip to the Churchill Downs track Wednesday. He said he was pleased at how the horse handled the muddy track and feels confident that wet conditions won't present a problem.
A number of the entries have only raced on synthetic surfaces. Only six of the 20 Derby starters have ever raced on a track listed as other than fast: Desert Party, Flying Private, Friesan Fire, Join in the Dance, Nowhere to Hide, and Papa Clem.
Betting on the 2009 Kentucky Derby can be found at Sports Interaction
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
