3 New York racetracks may close
ALBANY, N.Y., May 21 (UPI) -- Three race tracks in New York could begin closing June 9 unless the New York Racing Association gets financial aid, the organization said Friday.
The NYRA said 1,400 employees received layoff notices Thursday.
New York State has given the NYRA the franchise to run the Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga tracks through 2033.
Gov. David Paterson said this week the state will provide a loan of $17 million to keep the NYRA going until the end of the 40-day summer racing season at the Saratoga Race Course, the Albany Times-Union reported.
"NYRA continues to pursue solutions with the state of New York that may avert the cessation of operations," the association said Friday.
Aqueduct, in the New York borough of Queens, Belmont 4 miles east on Long Island and Saratoga in a resort south of Albany are among the oldest tracks in the country. Belmont is the site of the Belmont Stakes, third leg of the Triple Crown.
Judge delays Vikings' suspensions
MINNEAPOLIS, May 21 (UPI) -- Kevin and Pat Williams, the "Williams Wall" of the Minnesota Vikings, will not have to serve suspensions until their appeals are done, a judge ruled Friday.
The players, who are not related, must file a appeals for Hennepin County Judge Gary Larson's stay to kick in, the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported. They face four-game suspensions for taking banned substances.
Larson ruled earlier this month that the NFL violated Minnesota labor laws when the Williamses were tested. But he found the violation did not harm them and said the suspensions could be imposed.
The judge said Friday he believes the players will win their appeals.
"We're confident ultimately the courts will determine when an entity like the NFL violates a public policy statute, it can't proceed unrestricted," said Peter Ginsberg, the lawyer representing the players. "Until the NFL conforms its procedures to state law, it will no longer be able to act unilaterally and, we think, irresponsibly."
Sharapova moves into Strasbourg finals
STRASBOURG, France, May 21 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Maria Sharapova and Kristina Barrois won their semifinal matches Friday in France's Strasbourg International, a tuneup for the French Open.
Sharapova came from behind in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Earlier in the day, the Russian star completed a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 quarterfinal victory over Julia Goerges in a match that had been suspended because of rain with Sharapova leading 3-2 in the first set.
Barrois also dropped her opening semifinal set before rallying to down Vania King 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
The championship match will be played Saturday.
The French Open starts Sunday in Paris.
Verdasco, Gasquet are finalists at Nice
NICE, France, May 21 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain out-fought Argentine Leonard Mayer in straight sets Friday and reached the finals of the Nice Open in France.
Verdasco took a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 semifinal decision in a match that lasted an hour and 40 minutes at the NIce Lawn Tennis Club.
The 26-year-old left-handed Spaniard, ranked No. 9 in the world, will go against France's Richard Gasquet in Saturday's championship match .
Gasquet, 23, unseeded in the Nice event, battled to a 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (8-6) semifinal decision over Italian Potito Starace. The French fan favorite had eight aces in a match that lasted just over 2 hours.
The event is considered a tuneup for the French Open, which begins Sunday in Paris.
