Three horses die at Aintree to cast shadow over Grand National
Plaisir d'Estruval and Prudent Honour both died instantly after jumping Valentine's, the 13th obstacle in the Topham Chase, a handicap over two miles and five and a half furlongs. Both horses broke their necks. Earlier in the day, in the Grade One Melling Chase over standard chase fences on the Mildmay track, Schindlers Hunt was put down after fracturing a leg in a fall at the third fence. All three jockeys involved were unhurt.
Andy Clifton, Aintree spokesman, said the course was satisfied that the two fatalities at Valentine's were unconnected, despite having been the result of near-identical falls.
"We are satisfied that all reasonable precautions have been taken to minimise the risks to horses and jockeys," he said. "The two incidents were not connected as the horses were jumping different parts of the fence. It's very sad and unfortunate."
The Grand National course has undergone a series of changes over the last 20 years, designed to make it a fairer challenge for horses. These include levelling the landing side of Becher's Brook, the course's most famous fence, after two horses were killed at the obstacle in 1989, while there were also modifications in 2009 to allow loose horses to bypass fences.
Today's three fatal falls followed a relatively incident-free running of the Foxhunters' Chase over a circuit of the National course yesterday. Twelve of the 21 runners failed to complete, but all emerged unscathed. However, Pagan Starprincess was killed in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle. "Valentine's is historically one of the easier fences on the course to jump," Clifton said. "The entire field cleared it in the Foxhunters' on Thursday, just as the whole field cleared The Chair [the third fence] in the race today."
Andrew Tyler, of the animal rights campaign group Animal Aid, criticised the safety record at Aintree. "The BBC and much of the racing press have failed in their duty to report honestly about the different side of racing, which is the large numbers of deaths that take place on racecourses every year. These four deaths come on top of five deaths last year. This is not a sporting event, this is a sick and violent spectacle."
Fast ground is a recognised factor in the number of injuries sustained by racehorses, and Aintree confirmed that it will water the areas around the second-last and last fences on the National course and both the Mildmay hurdle and steeplechase tracks where the ground is traditionally quicker.
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Russian sting a victory for the testers
By John Mehaffey
LONDON (Reuters) - Untroubled access to elite Russian track and field athletes for unannounced random dope tests triggered suspicions among the testers that all might not be as it seemed.
The athletes were always ready for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) anti-doping officials and always provided clean urine samples.
"There were no 'no shows'," one official told Reuters. "The Russians were always there."
Suspecting that the results were too good to be true, the IAAF started storing Russian dope samples taken during competition throughout the 2007 season.
The upshot was a meticulous sting operation this year after which seven Russian women were informed that the urine they had supplied was clearly not theirs because the DNA did not match that in the stored samples. Five of them, including the world number one 800 and 1,500 meters runner Yelena Soboleva, had been bound for the Beijing Olympics.
A clear victory for the testers over the cheats, 20 years after the Ben Johnson doping scandal had revealed the extent of illicit doping in the central sport of the summer Olympics, was rightly trumpeted.
NEW GENERATION
Then followed news after the Beijing Games that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would re-test blood samples for a new-generation erythropoietin (EPO) product known as CERA.
Developed to produce EPO, which increases the number of red oxygen-carrying blood cells, CERA's advantage for unscrupulous athletes was to reduce the need for regular injections.
Fortunately the manufacturers, realising the dangers, contacted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). A test was hastily devised and four Tour de France riders -- Italians Leonardo Piepoli and Riccardo Ricco, German Stefan Schumacher and Austrian Bernhard Kohl -- were caught when their samples were retested.
Cycling remained the frontline in the battle against the dopers.
Spaniards Manuel Beltran and Moises Duenas Nevado failed traditional EPO tests, prompting harsh words from International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid before the start of the Beijing Games.
"We have a problem in Spain," he said. "It's time Spanish authorities start to do something concrete. For years, they have not been tough enough on doping and this is the result of their leniency."
Several international federations had problems with Greece.
Fani Halkia, who hurtled from previous obscurity to win the women's 400 metres hurdles at the 2004 Athens Games, confirmed what the sceptics had always thought when she tested positive for a steroid. Positive tests were recorded in Greek boxing, weightlifting, swimming and rowing as well as athletics. Continued...
McNabb, Westbrook lead Eagles over Cardinals 48-20
PHILADELPHIA – Donovan McNabb got pulled for Kevin Kolb again. This time, he earned a seat on the bench with a superb performance instead of a stinker. McNabb threw four touchdown passes, Brian Westbrook tied a team record with four scores and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Arizona Cardinals 48-20 on Thursday night.
"Adversity always happens in our position," McNabb said. "It's how you pull yourself out of it. I knew coming into this game if I just continued to be myself and know what I'm seeing out there and react, good things will happen."
Just four days ago, McNabb was benched for the first time in his career at halftime of a 36-7 loss at Baltimore. The Eagles only trailed 10-7 when coach Andy Reid decided to put Kolb in after McNabb threw five interceptions and lost two fumbles in his previous seven quarters.
But Reid gave McNabb another chance and the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback responded with his best game since Week 1. He completed 27 of 39 passes for 260 yards and a passer rating of 121.7. Kolb ran out the clock while McNabb celebrated the win on the sideline.
"He was very determined, he commanded the offense, he relaxed and played very well," Reid said. "He blocked everything out and went about his business. It's a credit to him and the kind of guy he is."
Westbrook, playing with a sore ankle and knee, had 110 yards rushing and 20 more receiving. He had two TDs on the ground and two receiving. Wideout Irving Fryar was the last Eagles player to score four TDs in 1996.
"We needed this game. It was a little vindication for my offensive line. We did a great job," Westbrook said.
The Eagles (6-5-1) desperately needed to win to maintain their slim playoff hopes.
They'll have a few extra days to prepare for the New York Giants (10-1) on Dec. 7.
The Cardinals (7-5) will clinch their first division title in 33 years if San Francisco loses at Buffalo on Sunday.
"It sure seemed like we came out flat," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I don't know if we were mentally prepared. We played hard, but obviously made too many mistakes. We weren't as crisp as we had been."
Kurt Warner had 235 yards passing, three TDs and three interceptions.
"It's not the game we wanted to play," Warner said. "I came out and forced one early. We just didn't have our game today and it was across the board."
Right from the start, McNabb looked like the guy who led the Eagles to four straight NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. He was 5-for-5 for 38 yards on the opening drive, capping it with a 5-yard TD pass to Westbrook. Whoever was calling the plays — Reid or offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg — finally mixed it up instead of relying heavily on the pass. The running backs carried six times during the 12-play drive.
"Anytime you get a good mix, the defense has to play both," Reid said.
When Kyle Eckel ran for a first down on third-and-1 to keep the drive going, fans gave the Eagles a standing ovation. That's because they had passed unsuccessfully on their four previous third-and-1 attempts over the past two games. Also, Kolb threw an interception on second down from inside the 1 that was returned an NFL-record 108 yards by Ed Reed.
Joselio Hanson, starting for the injured Asante Samuel, set up the next score with his first career interception and a 13-yard return to the Arizona 41. Warner's pass into tight coverage was tipped by Stewart Bradley. Westbrook ran four straight plays, scoring from the 1 to make it 14-0.
Quintin Mikell intercepted Warner on the next series, but the Eagles went three-and-out. They went right down the field on their following possession and Westbrook caught a 2-yard TD pass for a 21-0 lead. Hank Baskett made a diving catch for a 20-yard gain and DeSean Jackson had a 14-yard reception to set up the score. Warner tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Larry Fitzgerald to cut it to 21-7 late in the second quarter. It was his 20th straight game with a TD pass, breaking Neil Lomax's franchise record. Westbrook had a 9-yard TD run in the third quarter to put Philadelphia ahead 31-7. McNabb connected with Jackson for 24 yards on third-and-23 one play earlier. Notes@: Eagles right guard Max Jean-Gilles, starting for the injured Shawn Andrews, will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right ankle. Nick Cole took his spot. ... The Eagles swept the NFC West, a feat they also accomplished in 2002. ... Westbrook passed Timmy Brown for first place on the club's career list with 27 TD catches by a running back. ... Eagles S Brian Dawkins made his 34th interception, tying the team record shared by Eric Allen and Bill Bradley.
By ROB MAADDI, AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi, Ap Sports Writer – 2 hrs 37 mins ago
Raiders WR Walker done for year after ankle injury
From:yahoo NOV.14.2008
OAKLAND, Calif. – Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker is scheduled to undergo ankle surgery and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
No official announcement was made and interim coach Tom Cable did not mention it during his daily meeting with the media, but Walker told reporters Thursday that his season is over after injuring his left ankle during Oakland's 17-6 loss to Carolina last Sunday.
Walker was not at practice but walked into the Raiders locker room using a pair of crutches and wearing a high protective boot on his left foot.
"I'm done for the season," Walker said. "They've got to put some screws in."
Walker injured himself while making a 14-yard reception in the second quarter against the Panthers. He limped off the field but later returned to make another catch in the second half.
Although Walker finished the game, he was unable to practice Wednesday and was taken for tests Thursday. Cable, who is trying to find a way to end Oakland's three-game losing streak, had not spoken with Walker and was unaware of the receiver's status, a team spokesman said.
The three catches against Carolina raised Walker's season total to 15 in nine games, disappointing numbers for a player the Raiders hoped to anchor their passing game when they signed him to a $55 million, six-year deal in the offseason.
Walker has been criticized by then-coach Lane Kiffin for being out of shape during offseason workouts, was seriously injured in June during a robbery in Las Vegas, contemplated retirement early in training camp and then sat out Oakland's season-opening loss to Denver due to a hamstring injury.
The news wasn't all bad for Oakland, though.
Quarterback JaMarcus Russell took most of the snaps with the starting offense in practice Thursday and will likely be back in the lineup after sitting out the loss to Carolina with a bruised knee. The timing is fortunate because backup Andrew Walter, who started against the Panthers, was unable to practice due to a high ankle sprain.
"(Russell) was good today," Cable said. "He was much better and took the majority of reps in practice."
Rookie running back Darren McFadden, who has been sidelined with turf toe injuries, was also cleared to play for the first time since Oct. 19.
"I'm ready to go," McFadden said. "I've been feeling real nice the last two days of practice, just being able to go out there and run and not have pain. At first just walking on it was hard on me, but then as that went away it was trying to cut the burst and the cuts."
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess was given the day off and is likely to miss his sixth straight game while recovering from a triceps strain. Burgess had practiced Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt in practice Oct. 6.
"Because he's been out a while, obviously there's some fatigue," Cable said.
Notes:@ Strong safety Gibril Wilson (lower back) was limited in practice. ... Cable said the team is undecided whether to use Johnnie Lee Higgins or recently signed Justin Miller to return kickoffs against Miami this week.