DEL MAR MEETING TO START JULY 21
The $1 million Pacific Classic highlights a schedule of 21 graded stakes races over Del Mar’s 31-day summer meeting starting July 21.
The 33rd Pacific Classic, scheduled for Sept. 2, will be one of six Grade I stakes during the eight-week meeting that concludes Sept. 10.
The Pacific Classic, the July 29 $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (for older horses) and the Aug. 5 $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (for fillies and mares) are the three Grade I stakes among Del Mar’s six “win and you’re in” Breeders’ Cup qualifying races.
The three other Grade I stakes are the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Aug. 19 and a pair of $300,000 races for 2-yearolds on the closing weekend — the Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 9 and the Del Mar Futurity on closing day.
Del Mar will open with a three-day weekend on July 21-23, followed by four straight Thursday-Sunday weekends. The track will run Thursday through Monday (Sept. 4) over the Labor Day Weekend and close with a three-day weekend Sept. 810.
College football
BILL CENTER
The University of San Diego has announced its 2023 football schedule, and it’s sure to draw the attention of Ivy League fans. The highlight of the schedule will be a Sept. 16 home game against Princeton. Time of the kickoff was not announced.
USD is 1-3 all-time against Princeton. The Toreros last played the Tigers in 2017, losing 27-17. USD’s last home game against Princeton came in 2014 with the Toreros winning 39-29.
In recent years, the bulk of non-scholarship USD’s games outside of the Pioneer Football League came against scholarship Football Championship Subdivision teams. In three of the past four seasons, the Toreros went 0-7 against FCS scholarship programs, losing by an average of 21.6 points.
In 2023, USD is scheduled to play just one scholarship program, Cal Poly. The other two nonleague games are against Division II Colorado Mesa and Princeton.
DON NORCROSS
Sports and courts
Former NBA star Shawn Kemp acted in self-defense when he exchanged gunfire in a Washington parking lot while trying to retrieve a stolen cellphone and other items, his attorneys said Thursday.
Kemp, 53, was arrested by Tacoma police Wednesday for investigation of a drive-by shooting but was released from jail Thursday afternoon without charges having been filed. The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office said it would not file charges pending further investigation.
In a written statement, a Kemp attorney, W. Scott Boatman, said Kemp’s vehicle was broken into Tuesday night and several items were taken — including an iPhone. Kemp tracked the phone’s location to an occupied car at the Tacoma Mall, and when Kemp confronted the individuals inside, they shot at him, and he returned fire, Boatright said.
• A former Fox executive was convicted of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to nab broadcasting rights to the World Cup and other top soccer matches. A second ex-executive was acquitted. A Brooklyn federal jury deliberated four days before returning the verdicts. Hernan Lopez, the former CEO of Fox International Channels, was convicted. Carlos Martinez, who headed the Latin America affiliate, was acquitted.
Soccer
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes struck as Manchester United beat Real Betis 4-1 and began the healing process after Sunday’s humiliating 7-0 rout by Liverpool with a commanding round-of-16 first-leg Europa League win.
• Premier League leader Arsenal was held 2-2 at Sporting Lisbon in their Europa League round-of-16 first-leg match. Hidemasa Morita deflected Granit Xhaka’s long-distance drive into his own net in the 62nd minute as Arsenal salvaged the draw.
Locally
Christian Gutierrez scored the golden goal 23 seconds into overtime off an assist from Juan Manuel Rojo as the San Diego Sockers claimed an 8-7 Major Arena Soccer League victory over the Empire Strykers.
NFL
The Houston Texans lost their pick in the fifth round of this year’s draft and must pay a $175,000 fine for a salary cap reporting violation involving Deshaun Watson, the NFL announced.
• The Jets are releasing wide receiver/kick returner Braxton Berrios, an All-Pro selection as a kick returner in 2021, in a salary cap move, according to several reports.