Belmont Stakes News

WEST FARGO, N.D.(AP) -- NASCAR star Tony Stewart made his return to North Dakota - and failed to cross the finish line. The two-time Sprint Cup champion was felled by a flat tire midway through the 35-lap All Star Circuit of Champions sprint feature Thursday at the Red River Valley Speedway. He was third in a late mo

NJ harness racing supporters rally to save sport

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Harness racing in New Jersey isn't going to die without a fight. That's the message the head of the state's harness racing industry told about 150 supporters of the sport who attended an informational meeting in the paddock at the Meadowlands Racetrack o

Beau Choix wins Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) -- Beau Choix wore down Lonesome Street and Lighthouse Sound in the stretch to win the $70,000 Quick Call Stakes for 3-year-olds by a head Thursday at Saratoga. Javier Castellano rode Beau Choix for trainer Barclay Tagg, covering a mile over a firm turf course in 1:35.57 to earn $42,000 f

Massa says he won't let Alonso pass him again

BUDAPEST, Hungary(AP) -- Felipe Massa says he has no intention of letting Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso pass him if the two are fighting for the win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Massa said Thursday that he "will win" if the situation that occurred at the German GP repeats itself Sunday. Ferrari was fined $100,000

Roush transferred to Mayo Clinic

ROCHESTER, Minn.(AP) -- NASCAR team owner Jack Roush has been transferred to the Mayo Clinic following surgery on facial injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Wisconsin. Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement Thursday that Roush was taken to the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday and is in serious but stable condition. Th

NASCAR discouraging negative spin of sport

By LUKE MEREDITH AP Sports Writer NEWTON, Iowa(AP) -- NASCAR president Mike Helton says that while the league encourages emotion from its drivers, it doesn't want anyone sending the message that the sport isn't worth watching. Helton's comments came after a report by The Associated Press said that NASCAR has fined a

Massa says he will not let Alonso pass him again

By PABLO GORONDI Associated Press Writer BUDAPEST, Hungary(AP) -- Felipe Massa has no intention of letting Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso pass him if the two are fighting for the win at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. "I will win," Massa said Thursday when asked what he would do if the situation that occurr

Lookin At Lucky not-so-lucky at Haskell draw

By RICHARD ROSENBLATT AP Sports Writer OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -- Bob Baffert has been psyched all week, confident his Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky is ready to run another huge race in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday. Then came the post position draw. "Bob, he drew No. 1," Monmouth Park track announ

Holding Her Ground wins at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) -- Holding Her Ground led gate-to-wire in winning Thursday's $59,000 feature by 1\005C\005C lengths at Del Mar. Ridden by Christian Santiago Reyes, Holding Her Ground ran six furlongs in 1:09.65 and paid $54, $20.40 and $4.40 as the longest shot in the field of six older fillies and mares at 26-

Haskell choice: Lookin At Lucky over Derby winner

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -- Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky has drawn the No. 1 post and is the 5-2 favorite in a field of eight entered for Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver is the co-second choice at 3-1 in the first race for both 3-year-olds since Lookin At

Castroneves to meet with IndyCar officials

INDIANAPOLIS(AP) -- IndyCar series officials plan to meet with driver Helio Castroneves to discuss his conduct following last week's race at Edmonton. Castroneves was black-flagged for blocking Penske Racing teammate Will Power on the final restart. The Brazilian crossed the finish line first, but the victory was awa

Massa back at Hungarian GP after last year's drama

By PABLO GORONDI Associated Press Writer BUDAPEST, Hungary(AP) -- Ferrari's Felipe Massa says he is preparing for a "very special weekend" when he returns to the Hungarian Grand Prix and a circuit where he nearly lost his life last year. Last July, Massa's Ferrari hit a protective barrier after his helmet was struck

Smoke says NASCAR's clampdown is OK

SYRACUSE, N.Y.(AP) -- Count two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart among those who think NASCAR's decision to clamp down on public criticism of the sport is OK. NASCAR warned teams during the offseason that critical comments would no longer be tolerated, and in an appearance Wednesday with Syracuse University bask

Minis returning to international rallying circuit

By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer LONDON(AP) -- More than 40 years after it burst on the scene, a new incarnation of the Mini is returning to the international rallying circuit. For the first time since BMW acquired the brand in 1994, the German automaker is investing in a new model in a bid to replicate the 1960s heyd

Cancer survivor Byers driving to help others

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer Among the dozens of cars at this weekend's ARCA race at Pocono Raceway, one will stand out. Not for the color scheme or the lines. For the decals. When the No. 48 of Ricky Byers Racing rolls out onto the track, it won't be sporting the usual array of auto parts or alcoholic beverage

Pa. racetrack trainer accused of doping horses

GRANTVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A Pennsylvania horse trainer is accused of trying to rig races by injecting horses with performance-enhancing drugs. State police arrested Darryl Delahoussaye on Wednesday on charges of theft, rigging a publicly exhibited contest, administering drugs to race horses and tampering with evidence

Declining attendance forcing Indy to make changes

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS(AP) -- Jeff Belskus understands image can be everything in sports. His job: Put Indianapolis Motor Speedway back on top of the racing world in the midst of a poor economy. Three days after witnessing the smallest Brickyard 400 crowd in the race's 17-year history, the s

Top NASCAR owners hold their own town hall meeting

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C.(AP) -- The top team owners in NASCAR held a private meeting to discuss how to improve the slumping industry without raising costs. Representatives from at least 10 teams met Tuesday night at Hendrick Motorsports to brainstorm over a variety of ideas, Rick Hendrick

Blue Chagall wins stakes at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) -- Blue Chagall charged to the lead in the upper stretch and went on to win the $80,300 Wickerr Stakes bY 1\005C\005C lengths at Del Mar on Wednesday. Ridden by David Flores, Blue Chagall ran a mile on the Jimmy Durante turf course in 1:34.19 and paid $24, $10.80 and $5.60 at 11-1 odds. Aggie E

Monaco agrees deal for 10 more years of F1 racing

LONDON(AP) -- Monaco Grand Prix organizers have agreed a deal to stage Formula One racing in the principality for 10 more years. The official F1 website announced that an agreement was reached Wednesday in London between F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone and Monaco Automobile Club president Michel Boeri. Ecclesto