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Horse racing’s federally created oversight panel found no single cause of death among 12 horses at Churchill Downs this spring, but recommends further action and analysis to mitigate risk at the home of the Kentucky Derby, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) report also suggested improved veterinary screening and the creation of a blue-ribbon committee to study synthetic surface options throughout the sport.

The report comes two days before the start of Churchill Downs’ fall September meet and follows the June 7 suspension of racing to conduct an internal safety review. The spring meet was shifted to Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

That move came in the aftermath of seven horse deaths in the days leading up to the 149th Derby on May 6 – including two on the undercard – and five more in the weeks afterward. HISA immediately convened an emergency summit and recommended pausing the meet after consulting industry experts, veterinarians and trainers.

Among the findings in HISA’s report:

– An independent review by track surface expert Dennis Moore found no correlation between Churchill Downs’ racetrack surface and the fatal injuries some horse sustained. Moore’s analysis determined no “major issue” in its makeup, condition or maintenance and said the metrics were consistent with previous years. Moore recommended screening the existing cushion and any new material using a slot desk screen.

– There were no discernible patterns in the locations where horses died or were injured. The injuries occurred at several locations on the dirt and turf surfaces.

– Necropsies revealed no single cause or identifiable pattern of the horses, and none tested positive for banned substances.

HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said in a release that the organization is making “ambitious recommendations” to “ensure everyone involved in the sport acts, first and foremost, in the best interest of the horse. Racing can and must do better.”

The historic track announced in July that industry experts found no issues with the racing surfaces but it implemented its own improvements, including new track surface maintenance equipment and additional monitoring and equine care. A release added that additional resources would go to track veterinarians for specialized horse care to assist in pre-race inspections and entry screening.

Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said in July that racing would resume this fall with no changes and called the deaths “a series of unfortunate circumstances” in an earnings call with CDI investors.

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Boone clarifies Judge talk as OF says arm better

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Boone clarifies Judge talk as OF says arm better

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone reversed course on the status of star Aaron Judge on Tuesday, saying he should be able to return to the field this season after earlier casting doubt on whether that would happen.

Judge has been limited to being a designated hitter since being activated from the injured list on Aug. 5, after a stint there due to a flexor strain in his right elbow.

Boone told radio station WFAN on Tuesday that there is no timetable on a fielding return for Judge.

“I don’t think we’re going to see him throwing like he normally does at any point this year, but that’s OK,” Boone told WFAN. “We’ve got to feel like he can go out there and protect himself.”

Judge said those comments took him surprise, leading him to push back on the Yankees manager.

The star slugger said he feels “way better” than earlier this month, when he couldn’t make a 60-foot toss. He added that he’s thrown out to 250 feet and sounded optimistic about getting back to full strength.

“I don’t know why he said that,” Judge said. “He hasn’t seen me throw for the past two weeks, so I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to (100%).”

Boone then acknowledged he may have overstated the situation with his initial comment to WFAN.

“Is he going to come back and be a 70-80 arm?” Boone told media before the Yankees played the Rays in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday night. “I don’t know that I’m expecting that necessarily. But when we get him back out there, I would expect him to be able to handle it.”

The Yankees are coming off a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals and hold a three-game lead for the final American League wild-card spot. Offensively, they will be satisfied if Judge can simply remain productive at the plate. He entered the week batting .333 with 39 home runs, 91 RBI and a 1.134 OPS, all among the league leaders. His home run Sunday was his first extra-base hit since returning.

Judge’s inability to play the field has reduced the team’s flexibility.

Giancarlo Stanton returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday night after missing three games with what the team described as general soreness. Stanton is batting .299 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI and a .953 OPS this season, but his long injury history makes any outfield assignment a risk. He did not debut until mid-June because of tendinitis in both elbows. After playing three straight games in the outfield last week, he then missed three with the soreness. He has declined to specify where the discomfort occurred.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Robles suspended 10 games, fined for bat heave

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Robles suspended 10 games, fined for bat heave

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has received a 10-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his conduct during the top of the third inning of a game Sunday in Triple-A, where he was on a rehab assignment, Major League Baseball said Tuesday.

Las Vegas starter Joey Estes’ first pitch to Robles in the third inning was inside, and Robles whacked at it to avoid getting hit. After taking a few steps behind the plate and dropping his bat, Robles picked up the bat and threw it in Estes’ direction and was immediately ejected from the game by plate umpire Joe McCarthy.

Robles, who had been hit by a pitch three times in his previous four games with Tacoma, took some steps toward the mound while yelling at the pitcher but was held back by McCarthy and others.

He took to social media later to apologize for letting his frustration get the best of him.

“Coming off a long rehab and being away from the game for most of the season has been physically and mentally challenging,” Robles said in an Instagram story. “Adding to that, the recent passing of my mother has been incredibly hard, and I’ve been doing my best to hold it together. That’s not an excuse, but some context I feel you deserve to understand where I’m coming from.”

The suspension is to be effective on the first day Robles returns to the Mariners’ active roster. He has been recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in April.

Robles is appealing, so the disciplinary action is on hold until that process is complete.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Phillies’ Alvarado reinstated, ineligible for playoffs

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Phillies' Alvarado reinstated, ineligible for playoffs

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jose Alvarado returned from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and was reinstated from the restricted list before Tuesday night’s game against Seattle.

Alvarado’s return follows an 80-game suspension for violating baseball’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Alvarado is ineligible for the postseason, possibly impacting manager Rob Thomson’s decision on who to use as closer in the final weeks of the regular season. Alvarado was 4-1 with seven saves and a 2.70 ERA before being placed on the restricted list by Major League Baseball on May 18.

Among other closer options in a deep bullpen are Jhoan Duran and Jordan Romano and set-up men Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm.

Alvarado, 30, has 52 career saves, including a career-high 13 in 2024.

At the time of Alvarado’s suspension, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the positive test was caused by a weight loss drug Alvarado took during the offseason.

“It’s not something he did knowingly,” Dombrowski said. “I believe that, the way he talked to me.”

Alvarado allowed no runs in five rehab appearances with Lehigh Valley. He allowed four hits, struck out four batters and issued four walks across five innings.

To make room on the 26-man roster, right-hander Nolan Hoffman was optioned to Lehigh Valley. Left-hander Josh Walker was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Alvarado was the second player suspended this year under the big league testing program after Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar.

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