The Seasiders mounted their last attack of the game after a poor clearance from Cardiff City keeper Tom Heaton.
Gow took the ball on his chest before turning to beat Heaton with a lovely 15-yard strike.
Before that, the Bluebirds appeared to be coasting to victory thanks to the finishing skills of substitute Paul Parry.
He came on in the 63rd minute after replacing the decidedly out-of-touch Joe Ledley.
Parry pounced after a quick break out from defence led by midfielder Gavin Rae and Parry controlled nicely in the box before beating Paul Rachubka with a low curling shot..
The goals were the few real moments of skill in a game dominated by a gale-force wind gusting around the two-sided ground.
Blackpool were more used to the conditions and produced a couple of early chances with the best of which seeing Gary Taylor-Fletcher shoot tamely at Heaton.
Adam Hammill teased the Cardiff defence with his mazy running, but time after time there was no one to get on the end of his crosses.
Cardiff gradually adapted to the weather by keeping the ball on the grass and should have had the game stitched up late in the first half.
Their approach work was good but the finishing of Ledley, Jay Bothroyd and Roger Johnson let Blackpool of the hook.