Mike Repole grew into Aqueduct and Belmont Park, where seeds were planted for his horse racing fandom.

Queens native citizens and current-day owners will not be able to return to Belmont on Wednesday due to the delayed opening day, but the importance of horse racing being the first sport to return in New York from the coronavirus pandemic certainly will not disappear from it. .

“Racing back in general, I think, is very good for sports. But racing back in New York, I think, is even bigger, “Repole, owner of Repole Stables, told The Post. “Obviously New York is devastated by the pandemic and so many cases … I think it’s more special that Belmont is opened. It’s one thing when someone is quarantined and they watch the Tampa Bay Downs or they watch Gulfstream.

“But the ability to know that, you know, there is a glimmer of hope in the future because that path – half an hour from me, 10 minutes from me, one hour from me – is doing business, I think it gives people hope and promise that even though it will there is a new normal, at least we will get a normal feeling. “

Repole will have an interest in racing – especially the third race on Wednesday, when a 2-year-old girl, Todd Pletcher-Prisoner trained, is set to run a 5-furlong race with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on board.

Apart from the local roots of Repole, prisoners may find it difficult to become a fan favorite – not when a horse named Fauci runs next to him. But Repole has high hopes.

“When they usually start and we like them, if he destroys his girl, you talk about hope in the future and win the Derby 2 years and 3 years Derby and maybe one day win the Belmont bet, like something I dreamed of since I was 13 , “Said the St. John

While Repole says racing is the last thing he’s worried about in the past few months when COVID-19 has plagued the country, he still has to figure out what to do with his horse for a while. He sent half of them to a farm in Ocala, Florida, to rest while the other half went with Pletcher to Gulfstream Park in Florida, where racing never stopped.

Now, they are sending horses back to New York with Belmont reopening for Wednesday’s race and Saratoga opening for Thursday training.

Like fans, owners are not yet permitted in Belmont, but Repole understands top priority.

“My thoughts today about no fans are much different from three months ago,” he said. “Attention No. 1 is human safety. We always talk about horse racing, how important horse safety is, but this has now changed that the safety of individuals who work with these horses are in danger every day they leave, too. “

Preventive action has been taken on the back strap at Belmont to protect the health and safety of its workers, because training continues throughout the pandemic despite the lack of race. The effort has brought everyone “a little closer,” Repole said, and opened the door for the race to return in New York.

“Hopefully the first horse race, and then Rangers, Knicks, Nets and Islanders, and Mets and Yankees, and football start and control this virus and try to stay ahead,” Repole said.

“We need something to root. Being in New York and New York being hit very hard, there will be a very good feeling about sporting events in New York that will be different from just sports that are open to the public. “