Desormeaux hopes to return ahead of Breeders’ Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Kent Desormeaux is eager for a comeback.

The 44-year-old Hall of Fame jockey has been sidelined since being powerfully kicked in the chest after falling from his mount in a post parade at Santa Anita on Sept. 28. He was hospitalized for two days after suffering a collapsed lung and fractured ribs on his left side.

On Sunday, Desormeaux was a visitor for morning workouts and said he was targeting a return to riding Oct. 25. If he makes that date, Desormeaux could ride for several days before the Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

“That’s what I’m shooting for,” he said. “I’ve been pain-free for the last three days.”

On Sept. 28, Desormeaux was unseated from first-time starter She’s a Big Winner while the field was being paraded in front of the stands. She’s a Big Winner reared and fell, unseating Desormeaux. After the rider and filly scrambled to their feet at about the same time, Desormeaux ran several yards to grab She’s a Big Winner’s reins. As Desormeaux was adjacent to She’s a Big Winner, the filly struck him forcefully on the left side of his chest with her right hind leg.

Desormeaux finished second in the standings at the Del Mar meeting over the summer. He had won three races earlier in the day before he was injured.

Attendance, handle down so far

Nearly halfway through the autumn meeting, Santa Anita’s attendance and handle figures have shown declines from a similar period in 2013.

Through Sunday, the 11th day of the 25-day meeting, all-sources handle was down 5 percent, ontrack handle was down 2 percent, and attendance was down 9 percent, track executives said.

The track does not count infield attendance on weekends at this meeting since there is no charge for that area. Last fall, infield attendance was listed as part of daily crowd figures.

The meeting began Sept. 26 with the first of two weekends highlighted by preps for Breeders’ Cup races. Track officials believe business was hurt on the first weekend of October by warm weather, which saw temperatures in the high 90s to 100.

“We started out with a big weekend, and that was fun,” track president Tom Ludt said Monday. “We were concerned about the weather. It was hot that one weekend.”

A successful Breeders’ Cup weekend could quickly reverse the business trends. It is possible that there could be gains from two days of racing that were late additions to the calendar – Thursday’s program this week and Wednesday, Oct. 29.

“I hope we’ll get a bigger punch from the locals that don’t go” to the Breeders’ Cup, he said.

The meeting continues through Nov. 2.