College football:
The Florida Legislature passed a bill Tuesday to compensate the parents of former player Devaughn Darling $1.8 million for his death during team drills in 2001. He had the sickle-cell trait, which can make people vulnerable to illness from exertion.
North Carolina swingman Theo Pinson will return for his senior season after declaring for the NBA draft.
■ Minnesota extended coach Richard Pitino’s contract by one year, through the 2021-22 season.
Toby Kimball, who starred for the University of Connecticut and played nine seasons in the NBA, died at 74.
College basketball: Obituary:
After he LOUISVILLE, KY. — endured hoof and back injuries and a reluctance to train, things are looking up for Classic Empire.
The bay colt was made the early 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby on Wednesday, with just four of the 20 horses listed at single digits in a wide-open race.
Classic Empire was idle for three months after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and being named 2-year-old champion last year. He made his 3-year-old debut with a third-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes in February. Then came two more months off, and twice during that time, the colt didn’t want to train.
“It’s been a crazy road, but we’re right where we want to be,” trainer Mark Casse said.
Classic Empire restored Casse’s confidence in him by delivering a half-length victory in the Arkansas Derby.
“With the average horse you couldn’t do what we have done,” Casse said. “You need so many things to go right and the good news with this horse is he’s so talented he can overcome a lot.”
Classic Empire will break from the No. 14 post Saturday. Classic Empire’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile, finished second in the 2009 Derby.
Recent history is on Classic Empire’s side, too. The favorite has won the Derby each of the last four years. It’s the longest such streak since the 1970s.
Always Dreaming and McCraken, a three-time winner at Churchill Downs, are co-second choices at 5-1.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Always Dreaming drew the No. 5 post, which has produced nine Derby winners, most recently California Chrome in 2014. Blue Grass Stakes winner McCraken will break from the No. 15 hole. The last of five winners from there was Triple Crown champion American Pharoah two years ago.
Irish War Cry is the fourth choice at 6-1 odds and drew the No. 17 post. No horse has ever won from there, but trainer Graham Motion was pleased.
“Being in the auxiliary gate keeps you in the clear, keeps you away from the craziness,” he said.
Lookin At Lee drew the dreaded No. 1 hole in the starting gate. His sire, Lookin At Lucky, had the same spot in 2010. He was the 6-1 favorite that year but was pinched against the rail at the start and finished sixth.
Patch, whose left eye was removed because of infection, drew the No. 20 post on the far outside. He won’t be able to see the rest of the field to his left.
“He’ll get to see the crowd when he leaves there,” Pletcher said.