Sunday, May 11, 2008

Holm's first major league homer lifts Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Steve Holm entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher, then delivered the biggest hit of the day....(more)

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A's end Rangers' five-game winning streak

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Emil Brown hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs to help the A's beat Texas 12-6, ending the Rangers' season-best five-game winning streak Sunday....(more)

Down the final stretch

Doris Johnson remembers Seabiscuit and a crowd of 40,000 cheering fans. Bernie Thurman recalls Kentucky Derby winner Majestic Prince, a copper-hued colt tipping off his future greatness. John Harris counts several stakes winners for his family farm spanning more than 30 years....(more)

Ailene Voisin: 'EJ Junior' is loving life, work on TNT

Ticked off at the boss. Inching along in commuter hell. Depressed about the economy, the war in Iraq, the financially strapped public schools, the crumbling infrastructure, political sniping and global warming....(more)

Raiders RB Bush is in rookie minicamp after missing 2007

ALAMEDA – "I'm kind of nervous. I haven't seen this in a while."...(more)

River Cats are blanked on the bayou

METAIRIE, La. – Three New Orleans pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Zephyrs defeated the River Cats 6-0 Saturday night in the opener of a four-game series at Zephyr Field....(more)

Giants welcome back Vizquel, spark

SAN FRANCISCO – Omar Vizquel energized the Giants just by being back on the field and playing the Gold Glove defense that so defines him. His three hits were merely a bonus....(more)

A's end Rangers' zeroes but lose

ARLINGTON, Texas – Milton Bradley homered and drove in three runs as the Texas Rangers beat the A's 6-4 Saturday night for their fifth consecutive win, despite having their shutout streak end at 33 innings....(more)

Downey's Bispo sets U.S. mark

LODI – If this is how fast Karlee Bispo can swim when she's training hard, it will be scary to see how fast she can go when rested....(more)

Heavy lifting never felt so good

MODESTO – Christian Cantwell complained two years ago about the shot put being held out of the limelight here on the end of the infield....(more)

Regional Digest: UCD women earn spot in NCAA golf tournament

The UC Davis women's golf team won a three-team playoff Saturday at Lincoln Hills to earn a spot in next week's NCAA championship....(more)

Sac-Joaquin section swimming championships

At Tokay High School ...(more)

Fanfare: Readers sound off on Kentucky Derby tragedy

Once again, the American public is shocked and amazed when a 3-year-old filly breaks her ankles but keeps running. One only needed to watch the 1975 race in which Ruffian, a 3-year-old filly, continued to run her heart out despite being mortally injured. Thoroughbreds are bred to run and often don't have the sense to stop before they injure themselves....(more)

NBA Beat: Mavericks suddenly look very ordinary

The Dallas Mavericks have become like everybody else, except that they're not everybody else. Getting dumped out of the first round is a big deal, and having the Jason Kidd trade go splat is a very big deal as they run out of options for a solution....(more)

Area baseball report

Darren Oliver, pitcher, Angels: Oliver isn't showing signs of aging. The 37-year-old reliever has allowed 17 runners in 16 innings, and he has a 2.81 ERA and six holds....(more)

Today's events

Horse racing: Simulcast at Cal Expo, Woodbine, 10:35 a.m.; Churchill, 10:45 a.m.; Belmont, 11:05 a.m.; Bay Meadows, 12:45 p.m.; Hollywood Park, 1:20 p.m.; Hastings, 1:25 p.m.; Los Alamitos, 5:30 p.m....(more)

Bay Meadows highlights

• Built on the site of Curtis-Wright airfield in San Mateo, Bay Meadows opened Nov. 3, 1934. It was the only West Coast venue allowed to race during World War II, making it California's oldest continuously operating racetrack....(more)

California's aging racetracks

California horse racing's $5 billion industry is in crisis with its major venues facing redevelopment, starting with the imminent closure of Bay Meadows. No thoroughbred tracks have been built in the state in half a century, and potential upgrades at existing venues lack funding. Here's a rundown on each facility's uncertain future:...(more)

TV/Radio

TODAY...(more)

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What's the status of horse racing in California?

It's thriving
It's doing OK
It's a dying sport