Belmont leads the way in a new-look race for Triple Crown

Horse racing’s Triple Crown will look different this year from start to finish.

The Belmont Stakes will be run before the Kentucky Derby and Preakness for the first time and take place at a shorter distance. It will lead off the Triple Crown on June 20 in New York with no fans in attendance and at a distance of 1 1/8 miles instead of the 1 1/2-mile “test of the champion” that has been the race’s trademark for nearly a century.

“The way it fits in the calendar, it’s a completely different race than the traditional Belmont would be,” New York Racing Association president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said Tuesday. “I think we’re going to have a big field. I think it’ll be a really competitive field. I think the dynamics of the race are different.”

The three Triple Crown races will be run out of their traditional order for the first time since 1931. The Kentucky Derby was moved from May 2 to Sept. 5 and the Preakness from May 16 to Oct. 3 amid the coronavirus pandemic that has upended the sports calendar.

“I’m just happy we get to run,” two-time Triple Crownwinning trainer Bob Baffert said. “I’m just fortunate that they didn’t cancel any of them. A couple months ago, it didn’t look good.”

NFL

ROONEY RULE REVISITED >>

NFL teams must interview at least two minority candidates when looking to fill a head coaching position under a resolution passed on Tuesday by team owners that is designed to increase diversity, the league said.

Under the expanded Rooney Rule, clubs will also be required to interview at least one minority candidate for coordinator positions and at least one external minority candidate for the senior football operations or general manager position. Clubs must also include minorities or female applicants in the interview processes for a variety of senior level front office positions including club president as well as senior executives in communications, finance, human resources and legal.

The Rooney Rule, named after former NFL diversity committee chairman Dan Rooney, was originally introduced in the NFL in 2003 and obliged clubs to interview at least one minority candidate for every senior head coach role.

Of the five head-coaching vacancies this offseason, just one went to a minority candidate and only three of the past 20 head-coaching openings were filled by a person of color, according to NFL.com.

NOT GUILTY PLEAS FOR BAKER, DUNBAR >>

New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar pleaded not guilty to all charges against them stemming from last week’s alleged armed robbery in Miramar, Florida.

Witnesses told police that Baker and Dunbar stole money and expensive watches while armed with a semiautomatic gun at a small gathering at a house in Miramar last week. According to ESPN, the alleged robbery happened during an “illegal dice gambling game” at a house with 15-20 people present, and that a commotion ensued after parties were accused of using “loaded dice.”

Pac-12

UCLA HIRES JARMOND AS AD >>

UCLA officially announced Martin Jarmond as its next athletic director. The former Boston College AD will take over on or before July 1, when Dan Guerrero begins his retirement.

With a six-year contract worth $1.4 million per year on average plus incentives, Jarmond, 39, will be the highestpaid athletic director at a public Pac-12 Conference school. He also will be the first African American athletic director at the school.

Baseball

NATS TO HOLD VIRTUAL RING CEREMONY >>

The Washington Nationals will unveil their World Series championship rings during a “virtual” ceremony shown on television and online Sunday.

With the start of the Major League Baseball season on hold because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Nationals owner Mark Lerner said he hopes the plan to show off the team’s hardware would provide “a moment of joy in these uncertain times.” Teams typically unveil their title rings at a home stadium packed with fans.

“We don’t know when we’ll all be together again at Nationals Park,” Lerner said.

NBA

SURGERY FOR BOGDANOVIC >>

The Utah Jazz announced that forward Bojan Bogdanovic underwent surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his right wrist. Bogdanovic was averaging 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first season with the Jazz. The 31-year-old Bogdanovic signed a four-year, $73 million contract with Utah last summer.

Hockey

BOEDKER SIGNS WITH SWISS CLUB >>

Ottawa Senators winger Mikkel Boedker signed a two-year deal with Swiss club HC Lugano. Boedker, a 30-year-old from Denmark who played for the Sharks from 2016-18, was in his 12th NHL campaign when the season was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic in March. He is in the final year of his contract, and he might have already played his last game with the Senators.

Motorsports

RAIN FOILS XFINITY RESTART >>

Xfinity Series drivers must wait two more days for their first race since the coronavirus pandemic shut down racing, thanks to heavy rain that washed out their scheduled return at Darlington Raceway on Tuesday night.

Officials called the race about two hours after the scheduled start. The event is now set for Thursday at 9 a.m. (Pacific)