AUTO RACING
Homestead-Miami dropped from 2011 IndyCar schedule
Homestead-Miami Speedway is off the 2011 Indy Racing League schedule, a decision that some of the series' top drivers are not thrilled about.
IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard confirmed Wednesday that Homestead is not among the venues selected to host a race next year. Homestead was IRL's traditional opening site for much of the past decade, hosted the series championship-deciding finale in 2009 and will be where the final race of this year takes place on Oct. 2.
The IndyCar finale is expected to move to Las Vegas for 2011.
"We want to partner with tracks that are willing to promote and market IndyCar as we grow our sport," Bernard said. "While Homestead has been a good track, currently our objectives are not aligned. IndyCar must do what is in the best of interest of IndyCar going forward, and we are confident the partners and promoters we have will work very hard to help advance the series."
Bernard did not divulge any other schedule details, other than saying, "We have chosen to move away from Homestead." IndyCar will release the full 2011 schedule on Friday.
Homestead-Miami officials said they planned to respond after Friday's schedule release.
"I don't know the logistics of what happened so it's hard to criticize one part or another," driver Tony Kanaan told The AP. "To me, it's a shame. It's like losing my home race. It's the race all my friends get to see. It's the only race a lot of people here can afford to go see. It's the only opportunity I have to invite people to watch."
HORSE RACING
J P's Gusto rules Del Mar Futurity
J P's Gusto, the 4-to-5 betting choice owned by Gem Inc. and ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, staked his claim as one of America's best 2-year-olds with a 41/2-length triumph Wednesday in the Grade I $250,000 Del Mar Futurity before a crowd of 12,252 on the final day of Del Mar's summer season.
Prominent from the start of the seven-furlong sprint for juveniles, J P's Gusto, winner of the Best Pal Stakes early this season, shook loose at the top of the stretch, responded generously to Valenzuela's urging and pulled away to win in 1:22.95.
Jaycito, a 19-1 shot, rallied strongly to be second, 31/4 lengths ahead of Riveting Reason and Indian Winter, who dead-heated for third in the field of 11.
J P's Gusto, a son of Successful Appeal trained by David Hofmans, was scoring his fourth victory in five starts, all in stakes. His only loss came in his career debut, a maiden race at Hollywood Park. For Valenzuela, J P's Gusto capped an incredible comeback. Absent from California racing since the end of 2007, the 47-year-old jockey won 29 races at Del Mar this summer.
TENNIS
ATP mulling longer off-season
The head of the men's professional tennis tour said Wednesday that he will make sure there is a decision in the next few months on proposals to increase the ATP off-season from its current five weeks to seven or eight by 2012.
"There's never unanimity in tennis, but I think there is consensus that we need to do something about it," ATP chief executive Adam Helfant said in an interview with The Associated Press at the U.S. Open, "and even though this is something that's been talked about for a long time, and we haven't made progress, there is a commitment to make progress on it by the end of the year."
He wants a "formal decision" no later than at the last board meeting of this year, at the Nov. 14-21 season-ending tournament in London. Next season begins the first week of January.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Former UK player Cole to Northwestern
Former Kentucky player Anna Cole will play for Northwestern, according to the Big 10 school's Web site. The 6-foot-7 sophomore center will have to sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules. Cole, who said she was leaving UK to move closer to her home in Wisconsin, played in nine games as a freshman last season and averaged one point and 1.7 rebounds.
COLLEGE SPORTS
UK, U of L set for soccer showdown
Off to the team's best start since the 2007 season, the road doesn't get any easier as the Kentucky women's soccer team (3-1-0) travels to Louisville on Thursday to take on the in-state rival and 18th-ranked Cardinals in a game nationally televised on Fox Soccer Channel. Kentucky comes in off a weekend split in the ACC/SEC Challenge, earning a 2-1 win over No. 15 Virginia Tech before dropping a 2-0 decision to No. 14 Wake Forest. UK holds a 6-1-1 advantage in the series since the rivalry was renewed in 2006.
Ex-KU official seeks sentencing delay
A former University of Kansas athletics official has asked a federal judge to delay his sentencing in a case tied to a $1 million ticket scalping scandal at the school. Jason Jeffries, the school's former assistant director of ticket operations, pleaded guilty in July to knowing about the scam and hiding it from authorities. Wednesday's motion says the government has agreed to allow Jeffries to earn a reduction in sentencing in exchange for his help in the ongoing investigation.
Cheerleading sanction gains support
There are now two competing plans to turn competitive cheerleading into an NCAA recognized sport. A week after USA Gymnastics announced it will sanction meets among six schools with competitive cheer teams, a competing plan has been introduced by USA Cheer. The governing body for cheerleading organizations says it is teaming with 15 colleges to create the sport of "stunt." University of Louisville Spirit coach Todd Sharp says "stunt" will be run by cheerleading experts, not gymnastics officials.
The last word
Veteran NASCAR driver Mark Martin reflecting on the fact that he will miss the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship this season, thus denying him a shot to earn the Cup title that has eluded him during an illustrious career.
"I'm no champion. I haven't earned the right to be in that category or to stand beside those guys. But at the same time, I'm proud that I made them work for it and I saw them finish behind me many a time. And that I can be proud of."
