10-year-old Backsideofthemoon may not be finished racing yet
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Owner Charlie Hallas doesn’t want to retire Backsideofthemoon just yet.
Barred from racing Backsideofthemoon at New York Racing Association tracks, Hallas is scouring venues near and far to stable and race the 10-year-old old gelding. NYRA, last April, put in place a rule that prohibits horses 10 years old or older from stabling or racing at its three tracks – Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Hallas claimed Backsideofthemoon last Feb. 8 for $62,500, the second time he claimed the gelding since late in his 7-year-old season. On Feb. 26, NYRA announced it was instituting the new rule beginning with the 2021 Belmont spring/summer meet.
“I think I have a right to an exemption by virtue of the fact we claimed him before the rule went into effect,” Hallas said.
Hallas, an attorney by trade, said he intended to reach out to NYRA’s legal department to plead his case.
Keith Doleshel, NYRA’s racing secretary, simply said, “We have no plans on changing the rule.”
Yet, Backsideofthemoon is still stabled at Belmont with trainer Pat Reynolds. On Jan. 14, he worked three furlongs in 36.55 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. Hallas believes Backsideofthemoon is still running well enough to continue on. Most recently, he was third, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths, in the Queens County on Dec. 19 at Aqueduct. Backsideofthemoon won the 2020 Queens County but is 0 for 10 since with three in-the-money finishes.
“I think he’s at the peak of his game right now, he’s been running so good,” said Hallas, who said he’s raced horses at NYRA tracks for more than three decades.
For his career, Backsideofthemoon has a record 8-10-10 from 57 starts with earnings of $816,016.
“He’s sounder than most 4-year-olds,” Reynolds said of Backsideofthemoon. “I know Charlie would like to win a nice race with him. He deserves it.”
Reynolds said Monday he is looking at an allowance race next week at Parx Racing as a way to get to the $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes on Feb. 19 at Laurel Park. Reynolds said he would likely send Backsideofthemoon to a friend of his based at Parx.
Hallas has an affinity for Backsideofthemoon. In November 2019, he claimed Backsideofthemoon for $100,000. Backsideofthemoon raced six times for Hallas and trainer Bob Klesaris before the gelding was claimed for $62,500 by Mike Repole and Rudy Rodriguez. He raced four times for Repole and Rodriguez – winning the 2020 Queens County – before Hallas claimed him back.
“I want to keep going with him as long as he’s doing well,” Hallas said. “If he doesn’t, I’ll take care of him.”
Hallas owns a farm in Newtown, Conn., and said Backsideofthemoon would reside there when it’s determined his racing days are finished. Hallas said he has 15 retirees stabled there.