Reports: Derby to be postponed till September

Multiple outlets reported Monday that the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby will be postponed until the first Saturday in September. An official announcement is expected Tuesday.

The Derby — the first leg of the Triple Crown — reportedly will be moved from May 2 to Sept. 5. It will be the first time since 1945 that the Derby won’t be held on the first Saturday in May.

The race is just the latest sporting event to be delayed by concerns about the coronavirus.

♦ The NHL is pushing back the possibility of resuming its season by several weeks, if not by a month or more.

The league and the NHL Players’ Association told players they can go home — even out of North America — but must self-isolate through March 27 while the season is on hold. The NHL also cautioned it won’t be able to provide guidance about the potential reopening of team practices for another 45 days, which would push any return to play into May.

♦Coyotes defenseman Aaron Ness became the first NHL player publicly known to have been tested for the coronavirus. Agent Neil Sheehy said results came back negative.

♦ The American Hockey League said the suspension of its regular season won’t be lifted before May. The league also said it was recommending its teams work on returning players to their primary homes.

♦ NASCAR suspended its season for the next eight weeks and said it hopes to return to the track May 9 in Martinsville, Virginia. It said it still hopes to hold all 36 races this season.

MLB Sox option three to Class AAA

The White Sox optioned catchers Zack Collins and Yermin Mercedes and right-hander Jose Ruiz to Class AAA Charlotte.

With catchers Yasmani Grandal and James McCann ahead of them, Collins and Mercedes weren’t expected to make the opening roster despite Collins batting .333 with two home runs and eight walks and Mercedes .381 with four homers during spring-training games.

Ruiz posted a 6.08 ERA in 40 relief appearances last season.