PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB POSTPONED
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb became the latest Colorado event to see its schedule altered by the coronavirus pandemic, with the auto race postponed until Aug. 30.
The 98th running of the race, originally scheduled for June 28, was moved ahead by its board of directors in an announcement Thursday.
“With a full recognition and understanding related to the current coronavirus situation, our Board of Directors has decided to postpone the Race to the Clouds until August 30,” PPIHC Chairman of the Board Tom Osborne said in a news release.
The annual fan fest, which typically brings more than 30,000 to downtown Colorado Springs, will also be moved to Friday, Aug. 28.
MLB gives minor leaguers spring per diems. YORK» Major League
NEW
Baseball announced Thursday that minor league players shut out of spring training camps amid the novel coronavirus outbreak will receive allowances from teams through April 8, and a plan is underway to compensate those players during the postponed portion of the regular season.
Minor leaguers will receive allowances of $400 per week from teams in a lump sum for the next three weeks — a significant bump from their usual spring per diems of $100-200 per week. Teams hope that will allow players to cover housing, food and other expenses through the previously scheduled end of spring training.
Seattle NHL franchise delays revealing nickname. Seattle’s expansion NHL franchise will “look for the right time,” before revealing the team’s nickname and brand, according to CEO and team president Tod Leiweke. They are delaying general seat selection for fans and are deferring payments due in April, May and June for those that bought and selected premium seating.
California horse racing restrictions. Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields are tightening restrictions on jockeys, trainers and stable areas. Only jockeys scheduled to ride in races will be allowed in the jockeys’ room and they will have their temperatures tested daily. Lockers will be spaced a minimum of six feet apart and all jockeys must wear riding gloves at all times. Only licensed trainers and essential personnel who have horses running that day are allowed on the track in the afternoon. Owners, fans and media have been barred from the premises.
Drivers competing in eNASCAR. At least 35 NASCAR drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin will compete in the inaugural “eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series” event on Sunday. The event drew so many professional drivers it will now be aired on Fox Sports 1. The main booth of Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon, along with analyst Larry McReynolds, will call the event. The 90-minute, simulation-style eSports program includes a cross-section of competitors who will virtually race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Red Sox ace Chris Sale to have Tommy John surgery. BOSTON» Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale will have Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, an operation that would keep him out the entire 2020 baseball season if and when it resumes after the coronavirus pandemic. The team made the announcement on Thursday, two weeks after saying that the left-hander who turns 31 later this month had a flexor strain near the elbow. At the time, the Red Sox hoped Sale would avoid the operation that usually requires a full year of recovery.
Iconic Monaco GP canceled for 2020, 2 other races postponed. RIS» The
P A iconic Monaco Grand Prix was canceled on Thursday because of the coronavirus outbreak and two other Formula One races were postponed. F1’s showcase race was scheduled for May 24 in the tiny principality on the Mediterranean coast between France and Italy. Hours after being postponed, along with races in the Netherlands and Spain, it was scrapped for 2020. A race has been held every year since 1955 on Monaco’s sinewy street circuit.