Abnormally dry conditions look to persist into the weekend, which will have many coming out for Saratoga's opening weekend.

What You Need To Know

  • There will be hit and miss showers Thursday for opening day

  • Sunny, dry and warm weather is expected Friday into the weekend

  • Expect fast, firm track conditions outside of maybe Thursday

The time has finally come: enchanted mornings, followed by exciting afternoons! The Saratoga Racecourse is the summer place to be mid-July through Labor Day. Over a million fans visited the racecourse during the 2021 season.

With numbers like that, it's safe to say that the forecast for opening day through the weekend may be of some interest!

Let's talk about Thursday, opening day. After a dry morning, an upper level disturbance moving by to our north may be enough to touch off a few showers and possibly an afternoon storm. I wouldn't let this deter you from attending opening day.

If you're in the picnic area, you may want to bring some rain gear, including shelter if you have a coveted picnic table. Most of the time will be dry, but better safe than sorry.

The rest of the holiday weekend will be smooth sailing weather-wise for both racing and enjoying downtown during the evening.The heat and humidity ramps up for Sunday, so you may want to get to the racecourse extra early to find a spot in the shade.

Shades, sunscreen and plenty of beverages to stay hydrated will be needed Friday through the weekend. If it does rain on Thursday, bet the long-shots!