HORSE RACING

Retiring Standardbreds will be honored at the Downs

Scarborough Downs and the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine are honoring eight retiring racehorses during a ceremony after the sixth race in Sunday’s racing program, which begins at 12:10 p.m.

Each of the 14-year-old Standardbred pacers and trotters have raced at Scarborough Downs. The United States Trotting Association mandates that all Standardbred racehorses retire by the end of their 14th year.

The horses scheduled to take part in the ceremony are Goblin Girl, Gypsy, Jaccka Seelster N, My Radiant Star, Mystical Sign, Prince Rama A and Snowflake V.

A special tribute is planned for Par One, a horse euthanized last summer because of injuries.

SWIMMING

SHORT-COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: American Ryan Lochte set the first individual swimming world record since high-tech bodysuits were banned, winning the 400-meter individual medley at the short-course championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Lochte finished in 3 minutes, 55.50 seconds, bettering the previous record by Laszlo Cseh of Hungary a year ago by nearly two seconds.

Russia set a world record in the men’s 800-meter freestyle relay, finishing in 6 minutes, 49.04 seconds to better Canada’s mark from last year by more than two seconds.

The United States finished 0.54 seconds behind to take silver. France was third, 4.01 seconds back.

BOXING

MAYWEATHER WANTED: A Las Vegas judge issued an outstanding arrest warrant for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. on a misdemeanor battery complaint alleging he poked a security guard in the face several times.

Las Vegas Police Officer Bill Cassel said the warrant issued Dec. 8 requires Mayweather to turn himself in or face arrest at any time.

The allegation stems from a Nov. 15 confrontation over parking tickets between Mayweather and a security guard outside Mayweather’s home.

Mayweather faces a six-month jail sentence and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

YACHTING

AMERICA’S CUP: Negotiations have intensified to bring the America’s Cup back to Newport, R.I., in 2013, a person with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity because no agreement is in place.

Talks with Rhode Island officials resumed after San Francisco’s bid faltered. The Golden Gate Yacht Club has not accepted a revised host city agreement passed unanimously by San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday and signed by Mayor Gavin Newsom.

GOLF

EUROPEAN TOUR/SUNSHINE TOUR: The opening round of the South African Open was rained out with only six players having completed nine holes at Durban Country Club.

Five players were tied for the lead at 2 under when play was called, including two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen.

SKIING

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: Elisabeth Goergl of Austria had the fastest time of the second and final training session before a downhill race this weekend at Val d’Isere, France.

Goergl finished in 1 minute, 51.65 seconds on the Oreiller Killy course. American Lindsey Vonn was seventh, 1.56 seconds behind the leader.

MEN’S WORLD CUP: Christof Innerhofer of Italy had the fastest time in the final practice run on the Saslong course ahead of a downhill race this weekend at Val Gardena, Italy.

Innerhofer clocked 1 minute, 57.76 seconds. Bode Miller of the United States was fourth, trailing Innerhofer by 0.30.

SOCCER

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: The Seattle Sounders signed Swedish midfielder Erik Friberg, who played the past four seasons with BK Hacken in the Swedish first division.

Seattle also said there would be an announcement today regarding goalkeeper Kasey Keller. It’s long been expected Keller will sign an extension to play at least through the 2011 season with the Sounders.

 

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