Steve Hamilton sidelined with back pain

Laurel Park rider Steve Hamilton is sidelined with lower back pain, according to his agent, Ben Feliciano Sr. Hamilton, who has not ridden since June 10, was scheduled to see a specialist Wednesday.

Hamilton has been having back pain since he went down in a spill at the Laurel Park winter meet, according to Feliciano. The Laurel meet concluded May 6.

“He’s been in a lot of pain,” Feliciano said. “We talked it over and decided to find out exactly what’s going on rather than him just trying to ride through it.”

Hamilton, 46, has steadily built his business in Maryland since he resumed riding in August 2016 after a 10-year absence, during which time he returned to Oklahoma to raise his two sons.

Hamilton won 95 races in 2017 and finished in a tie for sixth in this year’s Laurel winter standings. He has 31 wins in 2018.

Hamilton’s son, apprentice Weston Hamilton, was the second-leading rider at the Laurel Park winter meet and is first at the Laurel summer meet.