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In brief

By BRANT JAMES, TIMES WIRES
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 12, 2002

TBD finalizing ESPN deal

Tampa Bay Downs officials are expected to finalize details this week for the track's signature event -- the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby -- to be the first race to be broadcast live nationwide from the Oldsmar track.

The March 16 event, a $250,000 prep for 3-year-olds, will be presented as part of the Racing to the Kentucky Derby series on ESPN.

The broadcast of the race is a result of Tampa Bay Downs' decision to rejoin the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the sport's unofficial league and producer of the series.

"It gives us a national exposure," TBD general manager Peter Berube said. "Ultimately, it'll help us in drawing a better class of horses and help us continue to keep our grade."

The final arrangements for the broadcast, according to track spokesman Margo Flynn, include coordinating post times with the San Felipe Derby and Gotham Stakes, which also will be included. Flynn said discussions with Santa Anita Park and Aqueduct should be finalized soon.

The 1998 Tampa Bay Derby was broadcast on tape delay on ESPN.

ESPN will use the track's video feed, and analysts will cover the race from the studio.

MORE HORSES: With another guilty plea and the third expected, the prosecution of three college friends is ending less than two months after suspicions were raised by a $3-million payoff at the Breeders' Cup. Glen DaSilva admitted in federal court that he had made about $200,000 through two conspiracies: one that used bet-processing computers to alter wagers and one that duplicated other horse players' winning tickets.

COLLEGES: South Florida volleyball players Michelle Collier and Ale Domingos were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region team. Coach Nancy Mueller was named the AVCA/Tachikara Region Coach of the Year. ... Florida volleyball players Nicole McCray, Aury Cruz, Benavia Jenkins and Jacque Robinson were named to the AVCA All-South Region team. ... Eckerd's Monica Carrasco, Cady Dolan and Johanna Wiborg were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-South Region team.

AMERICA'S CUP: Seattle's OneWorld benefitted from a penalty imposed on Italy's Prada to tie its challenger series semifinal at 1-1 off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand. In the other semifinal, Alinghi beat Oracle by 46 seconds to extend its lead to 3-0 and move within one victory of the final.

RUNNING: Olympic gold medalist Haile Gebrselassie earned $1-million by setting a world record for the 10,000 meters on a road course in Doha, Qatar. The Ethiopian finished in 27 minutes, 2 seconds at the QSI road race and received the prize from organizers. The old mark was 27:11.

WINTER SPORTS: Swiss junior downhill champion Werner Elmer died after colliding with a maintenance worker during a downhill race in Verbier, Switzerland. Police said the 19-year-old Elmer died at the scene, and the worker was taken to a hospital with undisclosed injuries. ... Russia won a women's World Cup biathlon relay in Ostersund, Sweden.

SWIMMING: Canadian Jennifer Carroll was reprimanded by her federation for waving a Quebec flag on the podium at last summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

SOCCER: Earnie Stewart, who played for the last three U.S. World Cup teams, can leave NAC Breda without a transfer fee. The 33-year-old has said he wants to end his career in the United States. ... Barcelona beat visiting Newcastle 3-1 in the European Champions League for a tournament record-tying 10th straight win. AC Milan and Manchester United also won and Real Madrid tied as the teams moved closer to the quarterfinals.

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