Smith won't lack for fitness if racing returns next week

Midway through Thursday morning on a warm day in Southern California Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was midway through a six-mile run in the hills above Santa Anita Racetrack.

“These hills are brutal,” Smith said.

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Chugging along at pace of nine or 10 minutes a mile, Smith spoke with his typical enthusiasm about Santa Anita’s request to resume racing on May 15.

The track has not conducted races since March 22, the day Smith won with his only mount – Parkour in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option.

Five days later, Santa Anita was ordered closed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health when the racetrack was deemed a nonessential business because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Smith has not ridden since March 22. Since then, his exercise routine has changed because of the pandemic. Gone are trips to the gym, which were ordered closed, replaced by extensive running and bike riding in the evenings.

“I’m going to come back endurance-wise even fitter than before we stopped,” Smith said. “I’ve doubled up on my cardio and I’ve got all day to do it.”

Smith was not scheduled to ride extensively in April before the closure of Santa Anita. On March 27, hours before county health officials ordered the track to be closed, Smith was given a nine-day suspension from April 10-26 after losing an appeal for a riding infraction in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 29.

The penalty covered days Santa Anita was scheduled to race. Even though Santa Anita did not race, track stewards said at the time the suspension would stand.

Earlier this year, Santa Anita stewards suspended jockey Joel Rosario for three days from Feb. 6-8 for a riding infraction. A day after the ruling was published, Santa Anita officials announced that racing would not be held on Feb. 6 because of concern about the available number of horses at the time. Rosario was not suspended for an additional day when racing was canceled on Feb. 6.

As of Wednesday, Santa Anita had not received full clearance from county health officials to resume racing on May 15, but were hopeful to gain approval in coming days.

As part of an expanded set of protocols enacted for the resumption of racing, jockeys, assistant starters, and a group of grooms that will accompany horses from the walking ring to the racetrack will be provided temporary housing on racetrack property to reduce the chance of catching or spreading the coronavirus.

Smith, 54, said the living arrangements are not ideal but understandable considering the once-in-a-lifetime situation caused by the pandemic.

“We’ll have to sacrifice as we all are,” he said. “I’d rather be at home.

“It’s not great, but we can do it. We get the game open again.”

If county health officials give Santa Anita the green light to resume racing, entries for the May 15 program will be taken Tuesday. Until then, Smith said he will continue workouts, which includes the use of an Equicizer, which allows a jockey to mimic the motions of race riding.

“I’ve got my Equicizer,” he said. “I’m double fit. Fitness won’t be a problem.”