Before the Atlanta Steeplechase, most of the weekends in April produced mild weather or torrential rains. The shift from 70s to the high 90s was a huge change for all involved in steeplechasing.

Xavier Aizpuru said he felt for the horses. “We just have to cling to their backs; they do all the work,” he said. “I was so exhausted after the day, I felt drained.”