Sunny skies for the Breeders' Cup

ELMONT, NY. - Sunny skies and temperatures hovering at 50 degrees greeted racing fans Saturday morning as they arrived at Belmont Park for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

Winds were gusting in from the northwest at between 10-20 mph, according to the 9:45 a.m. track report.

The main track was listed as fast and the turf course firm.

There were four scratches on the 10-race card at Belmont, beginning with Sassy Hound from the $100,000 Sport Page, the second race of the day.

The other three scratches, which were announced Friday, were from Breeders' Cup races: Fleet Renee (Distaff), Numerous Times (Mile) and Slew Valley (Turf).

Enhanced security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was clearly visible as a beefed-up police force inspected all packages brought onto the ground and members of the Nassau County SWAT team patrolled the track.

The Breeders' Cup starts with the Distaff (post time 1:20 p.m.).

Post time for the first race of the day, the $100,000 Stuyvesant, is 12:05 p.m.