Times wires
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Horses
Jockey fined for Breeders' actions
Jockey John Velazquez agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to settle allegations he violated rules in riding Life At Ten in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
Velazquez said in televised comments before the race he was concerned Life At Ten hadn't warmed up properly. She then lagged far behind the field and finished last. Racing officials said the jockey should have alerted veterinarians about his concerns or given the horse a normal ride. For doing neither, he was cited for engaging in "conduct that is against the best interest of horse racing."
In the agreement, Velazquez admitted "one or more rules may have been violated." In a statement, he said, "I do believe that this resolution is right for racing." John Veitch, chief steward for Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., faces the same charge. A hearing hasn't been scheduled.
Illinois derby: Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go was made the 7-2 favorite and drew the No. 4 post for Saturday's Kentucky Derby prep race at Hawthorne in Stickney. There are 12 horses in the $300,000 race.
Wood Memorial: Uncle Mo, unbeaten in four races, was made the 1-5 favorite and drew the No. 5 post for Saturday's Derby prep at Aqueduct in New York. There are 10 horses in the $1 million race.
Santa Anita Derby: Premier Pegasus was made the 8-5 favorite and drew the No. 8 post for Saturday's Derby prep in Arcadia, Calif. There will be 10 horses in the $1 million race.
Olympics
Women's ski jumping finally gets a spot
After an unsuccessful legal battle for inclusion at the 2010 Winter Games, women's ski jumping won a place for 2014 during an International Olympic Committee meeting in London. Ski jumping and Nordic combined (ski jumping and cross-country skiing) were the only Winter events open only to men.
The IOC twice rejected women's ski jumping for the Vancouver Games, saying the sport lacked enough elite competitors. Jumpers took their case to the Supreme Court of Canada but failed to get the decision reversed.
The sport seemingly sealed its case at the Nordic world championships in March. IOC board member Gerhard Heiberg said he was impressed by the level of competition and would recommend the event's inclusion.
The board also approved the addition of men's and women's ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon and team events in luge and figure skating.
Tennis
Wozniacki cruises in Circle Cup opener
After a first-round bye, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki beat Irina Falconi 6-1, 6-1 at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. No. 5 Samantha Stosur also won.
Andalucia Experience: Victoria Azarenka, coming off the Sony Ericsson Open title, won her opener in Marbella, Spain.
ET CETERA
Soccer: Host Manchester United beat Chelsea 1-0 and host Barcelona beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 in the first legs of European Champions League quarterfinals.
Greyhounds: Kiowa Sky Selma and Mohican Mink Mae won qualifiers for the Distance Classic at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Other dogs in Saturday's final: Bow Timeless, Flying Masago, Kelsos Ace High, Magic Finch, Midnight Light and Uss Gazillionair.
Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires