’16 Derby winner ‘retires’ to stud
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist has been retired, and the horse will begin his stud career next year at Darley’s Jonabell Farm.
Darley, located in Lexington, Ky., confirmed the news that had been expected since Nyquist was withdrawn from the Breeders’ Cup Classic last weekend because of a “puffy ankle.” The farm said Nyquist’s stud fee will be $40,000. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Nyquist was scheduled to make his final career start in the $6 million Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, N.Y. The 3-yearold colt won his first eight starts, with five Grade 1 victories that included the Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby and BC Juvenile, before losing his final three. Darley acquired the stud rights to Nyquist, who is named after the National Hockey League’s Gustav Nyquist, last fall. . . .
Britain’s champion jockey, Jim Crowley, and fellow rider Frederik Tylicki were taken to the hospital with suspected spinal injuries following a pile-up involving four horses at Kempton. The jockeys were treated at the racecourse before being taken to the major trauma unit at a hospital in south London.
Colleges: Duke’s No. 1
Duke is in a familiar place to open the college basketball season. The Blue Devils are the runaway choice for No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25. It is the eighth time Duke has held the preseason No. 1 ranking. Kentucky, which had two No. 1 votes, is second, while Kansas is third. Defending national champion Villanova was fourth. Two New England schools made it into the poll, with Connecticut coming in at No. 18 and Rhode Island at No. 23. . . .
The NCAA ruled that North Carolina State freshman basketball center Omer Yurtseven must sit the first nine games after examining his amateur status following the Turkey native’s overseas career. In addition to missing 30 percent of the Wolfpack schedule, the 18-yearold is required to pay $1,000 to a charity of his choice before becoming eligible to play. Yurtseven won’t miss any ACC games. . . .
Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd plans to transfer, leaving the Volunteers without one of the most prolific runners in school history as they attempt to snap a three-game skid that has dropped them out of the Top 25. Hurd, a junior from Hendersonville, Tenn., ends his Volunteers career with 2,638 yards and was only 440 yards away from Travis Henry’s program record. . . .
Police in Fort Worth, Texas, said the father of Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes was arrested on a charge of public intoxication during the Red Raiders’ game Saturday at TCU. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Mahomes, 46, was in the TCU student section at the time of his arrest.
Soccer: ‘The Best’
FIFA wants fans to vote in its rebranded “The Best” world player award. Online voting will now be a one-quarter share of polling for the annual men’s and women’s player and coach awards, the sport’s governing body said. The main voting participants ahead of the Jan. 9 ceremony already included national team captains and coaches, plus media. FIFA called its annual awards “The Best” when the Ballon d’Or name reverted back to its partner of six years, France Football magazine. . . .
Germany coach Joachim Loew extended his contract through the 2020 European Championship, giving him another chance to win the continental title. Loew guided Germany to the World Cup title in 2014 but has failed to win the European Championship in three attempts. . . .
Swansea lost to Stoke, 3-1, in the English Premier League, leaving American coach Bob Bradley still seeking his first win in charge of the Welsh club. Bradley lost 3-2 at Arsenal in his first game with Swansea and drew 0-0 at home to Watford in the second. . . .
Silvio Gazzaniga, the sculptor who designed the World Cup trophy, died in his sleep yesterday at 95 at home in Milan.
Misc.: Trial delay
The embezzlement trial of the founder of Rhode Island-based Institute for International Sport was put on hold until at least today in Providence after Dan Doyle was hospitalized yesterday for an undisclosed reason. Doyle, of West Hartford, Conn., has threatened to initiate a sit-in and hunger strike in the courtroom over complaints that he is not receiving a fair trial. . . .
The official broadcaster for the Olympic Games said equipment held by Brazilian authorities as collateral for any salary claims by workers, was released. In a joint statement, OBS and the Brazilian labor ministry said the Olympic body “has committed to keep an account open in Brazil as guarantee for any future payment due to the workers.”