PREAKNESS COULD LEAVE AGING PIMLICO
BALTIMORE» Pimlico Race Course is all gussied up again this week, ready to host the Preakness on a day that will enable the 148-year-old track to survive another year.
Old Hilltop is showing its age, however, and it will cost more than a quarter-billion dollars to make it right. So while the group that owns and operates Pimlico promises the middle jewel of the Triple Crown will stay put through next year, there’s a chance that the 145th running of the Preakness in 2020 will be held at newer, fresher Laurel Park.
Much depends on an ongoing study by the Maryland Stadium Authority. The initial phase of the investigation determined that it would cost between $250 million and $320 million to renovate Pimlico. The second phase of the study is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“By then, we should know what the future holds,” said Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of the Stronach Group, which owns Pimlico and Laurel Park.
Elway to play in Colorado Senior Open.
John Elway is heading back to the links to chase a title in an event where he has twice finished as runner-up. The Broncos’ general manager a is competing in the low-amateur category at the 19th annual CoBank Colorado Senior Open, which takes place May 30 to June 1 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. He will tee off at 1 p.m. on May 30 and 8:05 a.m. on May 31. Elway finished second in the 2014 and 2016 tournaments.
Intruders interrupt Sporting practice, assault players.
LISBON, PORTUGAL»
Portuguese football was rocked on Tuesday when a large group forced its way into Sporting Lisbon’s training center and assaulted its players and staff.
Public television RTP reported that around 50 intruders, who had covered their faces to not be identified, interrupted practice at Sporting’s training center in Alcochete, about 20 kilometers south of Lisbon.
RTP showed images of bloody wounds to the head of Sporting’s Dutch striker Bas Dost.
Police detained 21 suspects in the hours after the incident, according to assistant Secretary of State for the Interior Isabel Oneto.
Villanova to host Michigan in Nov. rematch.
ILL» Villanova ROSEMONT, will host Michigan in a rematch of the 2018 NCAA Tournament final Nov. 14 as part of the fourth annual Gavitt Tipoff Games.
The Gavitt Tipoff Games are an early-season series matching Big East programs against Big Ten schools. The event is named in honor of Big East founder Dave Gavitt.
South Dakota grad Mooney will immediately help Texas Tech.
LUBBOCK,
South Dakota graduate Matt Mooney is transferring to Texas Tech, where the basketball guard will be eligible to play next season.
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard announced Mooney’s signing Tuesday. Mooney started all 68 games the past two seasons at midmajor South Dakota, where he averaged 18.7 points, 2.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game while shooting 36 percent on 3-pointers (152-of-423).
The 6-foot-3 guard from Chicago played as a freshman at Air Force in 2014-15 before transferring to South Dakota.
Doug Ford, former Masters and PGA champion, dies at 95.
FLA.» Doug Ford, the VEDRA BEACH, oldest surviving Masters champion who won 19 times on the PGA Tour and was the player of the year in 1957, has died. He was 95. The PGA Tour said Ford’s family notified the tour that he died Monday night.
Ford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011 for a career when prize money was so small that he earned most of his cash gambling during practice rounds. His best year was 1957, when his three victories included the Masters. He was runnerup twice, had 22 top 10s and earned $45,379. — The Associated Press