Belmont Park: Lukas taken to hospital after being kicked in head by horse

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was kicked by his stakes-winning sprinter Hamazing Destiny at Belmont Park on Tuesday afternoon and was taken to a local hospital with a laceration to his head, according to a press release from the New York Racing Association.

Lukas, 74, a Hall of Fame trainer, will "need stitches," according to jockey agent Ron Anderson, who was with Lukas at the hospital.

Lukas has Optimizer in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Corey Nakatani, represented by Anderson, has the mount.

"I don't need this on Belmont week, but I guess these things happen," Lukas was quoted by NYRA as saying from the hospital. "I will be fine, it's just a matter of getting it cleaned up. I fully expect to be at the track tomorrow."

Lukas has won the Belmont four times, once with Tabasco Cat, a colt who at age 2 ran over and severely injured his son Jeff at Santa Anita.