content: I have two actual answers for you.  The first is that balloon pilots do have some direct control over the balloon - they can go up or down. The rest is left to the wind currents, but currents are different at different altitudes. A skilled balloonist is therefor able to read the wind and set his balloon at the proper altitude to go the direction he wants.  The second answer is, a balloon race isn't an actual first-to-the-finish race. Generally, the objective is to fly your balloon a certain distance, and then land as close as possible to a target. According to my sources, the difference between scores can be as little as a fraction of an inch, these balloonist are that good.  There are other little games they play to spice it up, like one balloon takes off first (the Hare) and the rest take off later and try to catch up (the Hounds), but I believe each event generally ends with a target to land on.