ELMONT, N.Y. - It was business as usual at Belmont Park when it reopened Wednesday for the first time since Sept. 9, two days before the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.
Wednesday's card was conducted under sunny skies and drew a crowd of 5,436, up from last year's attendance of 4,133 on the corresponding day. Belmont's ontrack handle was $1,188,486, compared with $819,380 wagered last year.
Balto Star, the speedy 3-year-old who romped to a record victory in the Spiral Stakes in March, will attempt to become the first horse to sweep the two signature events at Turfway Park when he starts Saturday in the $400,000 Kentucky Cup Classic.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Shane Sellers said Wednesday his injured knee has left his future as a jockey in grave jeopardy, and that doctors have told him he may be forced to retire. Sellers last rode Sept. 9 in the Atto Mile at Woodbine, a day after he surprised Arlington onlookers by saying he would leave the jockey colony here and go home to Louisville, where his knee would be re-examined.
Touch Tone will miss at least six months of racing including the Grade 1, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., on Sunday after his connections discovered a bone chip in his right knee. He is believed to have sustained the injury last Sunday during his final workout for the Super Derby, and is to undergo surgery to remove the chip in Kentucky, said Tom Durant the colt's owner.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - On the Game has done little wrong in his four-race career. Now he attempts to take his game into a more testing arena, in the Sept. 29 Ohio Derby at Thistledown, where he will meet Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Eclipse Award winner Macho Uno.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Ten days after the last race was run at Belmont Park, racing returned to the New York area Wednesday afternoon.
Located less than 20 miles from where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood visible in the distance, life began to return to normal at Belmont Park, which last week served as a staging area for fire units and relief equipment from throughout Long Island.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In the two decades since he came to the United States from his native Ireland, trainer Niall O'Callaghan has earned quite a reputation as a glad-hander. On any given Saturday, in any given racetrack paddock before any given stakes race, O'Callaghan can probably be spotted in his finest duds, shaking hands and laughing and generally making his presence known, even when he does not have a horse to saddle.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Descapate would have been the likely favorite had she run in a second-level allowance race at Belmont Park last Wednesday, but the card was canceled after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Thursday she will run outside her eligible conditions, but should still be a major player in a third-level allowance.
A field of seven fillies and mares, 3 years old and upward, was entered in the mile dirt race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dancethruthedawn, who in June became only the fourth filly ever to win both the Canadian Oaks and Queen's Plate, will not run again this season.
"She's had a hard campaign, and she's run well," said trainer Mark Frostad, who earlier had mentioned Dancethruthedawn as a possible entrant in the Oct. 6 Cotillion at Philadelphia Park.
"It's like she's over the top, a little bit. We're just backing off, giving her some easy time. She'll come back next year. We're in no hurry."
Outofthebox will take a significant step in his comeback on Sunday. A Triple Crown contender this spring after finishing second to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Outofthebox missed the classics because of injury and has not raced in graded company since. Outofthebox returns to Grade 1 competition in the $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., Sunday.