Belmont day forecast includes strong headwind down stretch

Weather on Belmont Stakes day is expected to be mostly dry, but horses may have to deal with strong winds into their faces coming down the lane.

According to the National Weather Service the Saturday high in Saratoga Springs is expected to be near 73 on Saturday. Forecasters predict a west wind of 14 to 22 miles per hour, gusting up to 34 miles per hour at times. This means a headwind coming down the stretch and a tailwind down the back straight.

There is still some chance of rain earlier in the day, according to the NWS forecast, with a 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 1 p.m. EDT. New precipitation on Saturday is expected to be less than a tenth of an inch.

The chance of rain increases overnight, with a 60 percent chance, though those showers are likely after 5 a.m. EDT on Sunday. The final day of the Belmont Stakes racing festival, featuring the Beverly R. Steinman Hurdle Handicap (G1) and six New York-bred stakes on the flat. The chance of rain is 80 percent on Sunday, including a chance of thunderstorms between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. EDT, with rainfall between a quarter-inch and a half-inch possible.