After years under state and federal investigation, the New York Racing Association is in line for a state bailout from near bankruptcy to again run the New York thoroughbred racing tracks it has long claimed to own. It was the specter of a long, costly court battle over that disputed claim to the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga tracks that helped NYRA gain Gov.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the middle of the NL Central race despite being two losses from a 15th consecutive losing season. They’re not close to first place, but they keep beating the teams fighting for it. Tony Armas pitched six sharp innings a day after Milwaukee hit six home runs, and Nate McLouth’s two-run homer carried Pittsburgh to another home-field victory over the Brewers, 9-0 on…
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson underwent season-ending surgery Monday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, and the team was pleased with the results. The 2-hour procedure was performed by hand specialist Don Sheridan in Phoenix, and Hudson was resting comfortably back in the desert.
The Cubs will gladly pardon the interruption of their 10-game trip. Chicago got 17 hits during a one-game stopover at Wrigley Field, helping Ted Lilly win his 15th game and beating the St. Louis Cardinals 12-3. “It is weird,” said Aramis Ramirez, who homered twice and had four hits. “We were supposed to be in Houston having a day off today, and we’re here playing a game in Chicago.” Ramirez wasn’t…
Oakland Raiders officials met with representatives for holdout quarterback JaMarcus Russell for the third time in four days Monday, leading coach Lane Kiffin to say the contract dispute with the No. 1 overall draft pick could be resolved quickly. The two sides met Friday and Saturday in the Bay Area before taking a day off for Oakland’s season opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Eli Manning has a bruised right shoulder and it is uncertain whether the New York Giants quarterback will play against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Manning had an MRI on Monday that revealed a contusion to the acromioclavicular joint, near the collarbone. “They have put it in my hands,” Manning said of his playing status.
Timber Reserve swept past the leaders on the far turn, fought off a tough challenge from Xchanger and won the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Monday at Philadelphia Park. The 3-year-old horse won in his first race of the year. Cable Boy, the pacesetter in the Haskell Invitational last month at Monmouth Park, grabbed the lead out of the gate.
Rajiv Maragh was the winning jockey in back-to-back stakes races as the Meadowlands Racetrack kicked off its 41-date thoroughbred meet on Monday afternoon. Maragh first rode Remain Silent to 2-length victory over Silver Timber in the $55,000 King Bold Reality Stakes, setting a new course record in the process.
The crowd gasped when heavily favored Heartswideopen broke from the outside post and drifted toward the inside rail. Oscar Hernandez, riding cool in the irons, never worried. Heartswideopen, breaking from the outside post, briefly drifted toward the inside rail but recovered and charged to catch SF Royal Bank with the final stride Monday in the $1.9 million All American Futurity.
Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, will undergo exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery this week because of pain in his right knee. An MRI taken last week showed Oden may have some cartilage problems, general manager Kevin Pritchard said Monday. A timetable for Oden’s return will be set following the surgery, which will take place Thursday in Vancouver, Wash.
