Laurel Park
Russell begins physical therapy
Debra A. Roma Sheldon Russell, who injured his shoulder in November, might be able to resume riding in late spring.
Maryland rider Sheldon Russell recently began therapy on his shoulder, which he injured in a Nov. 9 training accident. Russell tore his labrum in two places and fractured his shoulder.
This has been a star-crossed year for Russell, who won the riding title at the Laurel Park winter-spring meet and the 1,000th race of his career in March. He missed three months after breaking several ribs and puncturing a lung in an April spill at Pimlico. He was then back a little more than three months before hurting his shoulder.
Russell, 28, had to wait a month and let his shoulder heal before he had surgery. His physical therapy is scheduled to last several months, and he is not expected to resume riding until late spring.