THOROUGHBRED RACING

FILE - In this July 31, 2015, file photo, people watch as Triple Crown winner American Pharoah with Jorge Alvarez up trains at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. With the opening of the thoroughbred season at Monmouth Park just days away, chief executive Dennis Drazin knows the track will be beating the odds by just breaking even. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)With the opening of the thoroughbred season at Monmouth Park days away, chief executive Dennis Drazin knows the odds are against the track making a profit. Monmouth Park is starting off with an unexpected daily double. There was no hesitation in my saying: We are not closing, we are going to run a meet this year. Drazin has walked around the track's 300 acres in recent weeks and said the track can reasonably handle 15,000 fans.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)LOUISVILLE, Ky. Churchill Downs officials have gotten their wish, announcing Thursday that when the rescheduled Kentucky Derby is run in September there will be spectators in the stands just more spread out than usual. The historic track got the go-ahead to run the Derby and Oaks this fall with spectators under strict guidelines to limit crowd density for the marquee Triple Crown race that annually attracts more than 150,000. Andy Beshear and local health officials, Churchill Downs will reduce capacity in general admission, outdoor reserved seating, premium dining and suites. Attendance obviously will be lower this year with new health protocols, and Churchill Downs president Kevin Flanery isn't thinking about numbers. Churchill Downs will announce information on tickets and seating in the coming days.

He raced to a 3 3/4-length victory Saturday in the Belmont Stakes to open the rescheduled Triple Crown. In 11 weeks, he'll get a chance to avenge that defeat over the same track in the Kentucky Derby. Tiz the Law has an ambitious summer and fall campaign ahead of him if all goes according to plan. He watched Tiz the Law win the Florida Derby on March 28 from his condo near the track and the Belmont at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs. Tiz the Law is atop the leaderboard that determines the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field with 272 points.

All three legs of this years Triple Crown schedule were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tiz the Law gave New York a hometown champion in its first major sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic seized the area. Signs outside the locked down venue instructed gamblers that if they wanted to wager on this Belmont Stakes, their best bet was to download an app and do it on their phones. Tiz the Law owner Jack Knowlton of New Yorks Sackatoga Stable was set to watch from a restaurant patio in upstate Saratoga Springs. Manny Franco, a 25-year-old jockey from Puerto Rico, entered the winners circle in his first career Belmont Stakes.

Robin Smullen, left, and Juan Barajas Saldana walk Belmont Stakes hopeful Tiz the Law around the paddock at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2020. Now, the ownership group that buys just one or two New York-bred colts a year is back to try again with Tiz the Law. Tiz The Law has been the best 3-year-old since January basically, and he remains that, retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey said. Knowlton hasnt seen Tiz the Law race in person since Feb. 3 in Florida because of the pandemic. With all the changes for horses and humans, Tiz the Law remains a calming presence.

It wasn't quite the post position trainer Barclay Tagg wanted for Tiz the Law. Still, it wasn't far off for the colt who on Wednesday was made the early 6-5 favorite for the Belmont Stakes. Tagg was hoping the Florida Derby winner would land anywhere between spots 5 to 7 in the starting gate for Saturday's beginning of the reconfigured Triple Crown series. Tiz the Law drew the No. He likes this track, so I'm glad to be back on it.Instead of concluding the Triple Crown, the Belmont is kicking off the series.

The Belmont Stakes usually wraps up a five-week span that includes the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. All have been pushed back, though the Belmont Stakes will now go first on June 20. (Richard Rasmussen/The Sentinel-Record via AP, File)The final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown would have been set and the French Open finals would have been contested this week if not for the coronavirus pandemic. All have been pushed back, though the Belmont Stakes will now go first on June 20. TRIVIA BREAK: With the Belmont Stakes being the first Triple Crown race this year, followed by the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 and the Preakness on Oct. 3, the Triple Crown will be run out of its usual order for the first time since when?

Joel Rosario, top, and Nadal cross the wire to win the second division of the Arkansas Derby horse race Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark. (Richard Rasmussen/The Sentinel-Record via AP)LOS ANGELES Nadal, one of trainer Bob Bafferts early favorites for the Triple Crown, injured his ankle after a workout at Santa Anita on Thursday and is out of contention for the series. Baffert said Nadal could return to racing after a 90-day recovery period. Nadal is named for Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, who has endured numerous injuries during his stellar career. In February, he won the San Vicente after winning his racing debut in January at Santa Anita.

LOS ANGELES Two horses from the barn of two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert have tested positive for a banned substance, according to published reports. According to the Times, one of the horses to test positive was Charlatan, an undefeated colt considered to be a top contender for the Belmont Stakes on June 20. The Times reported Baffert's other horse to test positive is Gamine, a 3-year-old filly who won at Oaklawn on the same day. Charlatan is ranked fourth on the qualifying points leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby, a race Baffert has won five times. No one at the Arkansas Racing Commission was reachable after hours Tuesday night.

The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20, 2020, without fans and serve as the opening leg of horse racing's Triple Crown for the first time in the sport's history. This is the first time the Belmont will lead off the Triple Crown ahead of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)Horse racing's Triple Crown will look different this year from start to finish. An out-of-order Triple Crown presents another set of challenges and would be a different kind of accomplishment than the one competed by the 13 past champions. How can he handle it? said Baffert, who trained 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 winner Justify.

The grandstand near the finish line at Pimlico Race Course is seen empty, Friday, May 15, 2020, in Baltimore. But Pimlico Race Course and many tracks across North America remain dark because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)The 145th Preakness Stakes has been rescheduled for Oct. 3, an announcement delivered Saturday less than hour before the original post time for the Triple Crown race. Traditionally held at Pimlico Race Course on the third Saturday in May, the Preakness was postponed April 3 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Under normal circumstances, I would be standing at Pimlico ... presenting the Woodlawn Trophy to the winner of the 145th Preakness Stakes," Hogan said.