The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a severe thunderstorm warning and it could delay the running of the Kentucky Oaks.
Churchill Downs recommends that the patrons in the infield evacuate. We are in a weather delay
— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) May 4, 2012
The storm is expected to bring strong winds, hail and lightning, reaching Louisville between 5-6 p.m, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. There also is a chance the rain and wind could carry over into Kentucky Derby day on Saturday. However, the rain is most likely in the morning and should start to disappear throughout the day.
The Courier-Journal reporters that the NWS has meteorologists at the track, so the event planners can act accordingly if weather is to become a factor.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage of the 2012 Kentucky Derby, head over to SB Nation horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. Stay up to date with constant Derby coverage in this StoryStream.