The Aiken Triple Crown could get off to a wet start.
The National Weather Service in Columbia is calling for a 50 percent chance of showers for the Aiken Trials on Saturday.
"Most of the rain should be in the morning and early in the afternoon, and there will be a chance of an isolated thunderstorm," said Hunter Coleman, a National Weather Service meteorologist. "By late afternoon, it should all be clearing out."
The high temperature will be around 70 degrees.
Today, there is an 80 percent chance of rain, and the high will be near 50 degrees. Tonight's chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
"There is a low-pressure system that is lifting out of the Gulf of Mexico into the Ohio Valley, and it will be bringing increased moisture into our area," Coleman said. "We're probably looking at a half-inch (of) rainfall total for the whole event through Saturday evening. A cold front will push into the area late Saturday night."
Spectators standing at the track's rail will not be allowed to use umbrellas and should wear ponchos to keep dry if it rains, said Nikki Bargeloh, event coordinator for the Triple Crown's first leg and the Aiken Training Track's secretary.
"The only way we would cancel would be if there was extremely severe weather like a tornado," Bargeloh said.
The gates will open for the Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the post time for the first of the six races is 2 p.m.
General admission tickets are $10. Tickets for the Winners Circle Pavilion Tent Party are $75 for adults and $25 for children.
Parking is $10 for either the infield or the outfield.
Aiken Training Track is at 538 Two Notch Road S.E.
The other events in the Aiken Triple Crown are the Aiken Spring Steeplechase on March 21 and Pacers & Polo on March 28.
For more information, visit aikentrials.com.
Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter.