Sheldon Russell sidelined with broken wrist

Sheldon Russell, the leading rider this year at Laurel Park’s summer meet, will be out for 4-6 weeks after he broke his wrist in a gate mishap on Thursday at Delaware Park, Laurel reported.

Russell, who has 20 wins at the current Laurel meet, five more than runner-up Trevor McCarthy, was unseated from his mount in Delaware’s third race on Thursday. He broke his wrist when using his hand to break his fall, according to his agent, Marty Leonard.

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“The second he hit the ground he said he knew it was broken,” Leonard said.

Russell, 32, has won five riding titles at Laurel and two at its sister track, Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Last year, he was second by wins in Maryland and his mounts earned $3.3 million.

Laurel resumed racing on May 30 and has been racing on a two-day schedule. The track will begin riding on a three-day schedule next week.