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No Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in Preakness highlights some philosophical horse …

Jockey Junior Alvarado celebrates after riding Sovereignty to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (AP)- Just a few days after winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was ruled out of running in the Preakness Stakes. It is the second […]

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No Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in Preakness highlights some philosophical horse ...

Kentucky Derby Horse Racing

Jockey Junior Alvarado celebrates after riding Sovereignty to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

(AP)- Just a few days after winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was ruled out of running in the Preakness Stakes.

It is the second time in four years the owner and trainer of the Derby champion opted to skip the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes in June. Rich Strike also bypassed the Preakness in 2022 after winning at Churchill Downs at odds of 80-1.

Country House did not run in 2019 because of illness after getting elevated to Derby winner when Maximum Security was disqualified for interference, the races were run out of order in 2020 and Medina Spirit ran and finished third in the 2021 Preakness after being DQed from his first-place finish in the Derby for a positive drug test.

That means this is the fifth time in seven years that the Preakness gates open at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore without even a chance at a Triple Crown. That was only the case once in the previous 33 years from to 1986-2018, and that happened because a horse was retired because of injury after taking the Run for the Roses.

Why is this happening?

Horse racing has changed from its heyday, when stars of the sport like War Admiral, Secretariat and Seattle Slew were used to running every couple of weeks. Breeding, money and other factors have changed that, and the top 3-year-old horses eligible for the Triple Crown race far less often, with bigger stretches in between.

“Most trainers hate running their horses back in two weeks,” NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss said. “They feel like it’s bad for the horses.”

Beginning in the early 21st century, many of the Derby horses who finish between second and 20th started getting more rest to wait five weeks for the Belmont. It was essentially automatic that the Derby winner would go, though not anymore.

“The trainers of Derby winners that do run back in the Preakness do it out of a sense of tradition — not because they like it,” Moss said.

Sovereignty’s Bill Mott made that clear the morning after his horse passed Journalism down the stretch in the mud at Churchill Downs with a record audience watching, casting doubt on the Preakness.

“We want to do what’s best for the horse,” Mott told reporters in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. “Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that’s not something we’re not going to think about.”

Does something need to change?

The debate has been raging for decades about horses not being able to handle the grind of three premier races over a span of five weeks. That was primarily because no one swept the Triple Crown between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015, a 37-year drought that made industry stakeholders question tradition versus modern-day changes.

Justify doing it in 2018 to give the sport a pair of Triple Crown champions in four years quieted that talk. The recent uncertainty about Derby winners going to the Preakness reignited the chatter.

Prominent owner Mike Repole shared a proposal on social media Tuesday that would move the Belmont up to second in the rotation and shift the Preakness back to provide more spacing. Others have suggested moving the Preakness back to the first Saturday in June and the Belmont to the first Saturday in July.

What is the solution?

No one really knows. And does there need to be seismic change like the pitch clock in baseball?

Maybe, maybe not. After all, the previous two Derby winners — Mystik Dan last year and Mage in 2023 — wheeled back after two weeks to finish in the money at the Preakness.

They didn’t win, but their trainers wanted to give it a shot. And Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah and Justify completing the Triple Crown showed it was possible.

“We’ll see Triple Crown winners because there will occasionally be horses like American Pharoah and like Justify who are good enough to blow up any of the current thoughts about spacing,” Moss said.

And trainers who aren’t worried about it. Baffert and 89-year-old fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas have shown a willingness to go for it after winning the Derby — and even when they don’t. Lukas intends to run American Promise in the Preakness after a 16th place finish in Kentucky.

Others have chosen to play it more safe, which, if that becomes the trend, puts the future of the Preakness in peril.

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High School Sports

Helping student athletes with annual Memorial Mile

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Members of the Lansing community gathered at Everett High School on Sunday for the 2nd annual Memorial Mile. The Memorial Mile is a competitive run or walk that loops around the school’s campus to help raise money for the track and field equipment for the Lansing school district. Claude Thomas, who’s […]

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Helping student athletes with annual Memorial Mile

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Members of the Lansing community gathered at Everett High School on Sunday for the 2nd annual Memorial Mile.

The Memorial Mile is a competitive run or walk that loops around the school’s campus to help raise money for the track and field equipment for the Lansing school district.

Claude Thomas, who’s Lansing Everett’s track and field Head coach, said it was nice to see everyone having a good time.

“Everybody’s in a happy, jovial mood,” said Thomas. “A lot of people here know each other, friends, and they get to get together again and have a nice one-mile run.”

Plans for next year’s run are already in the works.

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High School Sports

Knicks vs. Pacers score, live updates

That last Aaron Nesmith 3 is one of the reasons Tyrese Haliburton is one of the best transition players in the league. Usually, we think about pure speed when it comes to the break, the ability to get yourself or your teammates a layup or a dunk instantly. However, with Karl-Anthony Towns standing in his […]

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Knicks vs. Pacers score, live updates

That last Aaron Nesmith 3 is one of the reasons Tyrese Haliburton is one of the best transition players in the league. Usually, we think about pure speed when it comes to the break, the ability to get yourself or your teammates a layup or a dunk instantly.

However, with Karl-Anthony Towns standing in his way — and with four fouls, making him an inviting target to attack — Haliburton pulled the ball out, with the Knicks sprinting back to help control the paint. Nesmith was the uncovered trailer, and Haliburton got him an open look. Sometimes the right decision is waiting a beat, and nobody makes the right decision on the move more often than Haliburton.

WATCH: How Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton breaks the conventions of basketball

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WATCH: How Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton breaks the conventions of basketball

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High School Sports

Sports gives both fans and participants shot at greatness

A look back at highlights and stories of a captivating year in high school sports FARMINGTON – Journalists, particularly those who cover sports, are not supposed to show favoritism for one team over another. As an old-school journalist, who was trained by a father who was an old-school journalist, I learned that lesson early. As […]

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Sports gives both fans and participants shot at greatness

A look back at highlights and stories of a captivating year in high school sports

FARMINGTON – Journalists, particularly those who cover sports, are not supposed to show favoritism for one team over another.

As an old-school journalist, who was trained by a father who was an old-school journalist, I learned that lesson early. As a teenager and young adult who got his start writing about a sport entrenched in gambling, it was a hard lesson to remember.

Some 40 years later and I’m still a fan of sports, maybe more so now because I’ve seen so many of them, but my appreciation for the sport comes from a different angle.

I enjoy the ability to tell stories of things most people don’t get a chance to see. The games that might appear to have little if any impact on the outside world, but for a fanbase of a team or a supporter of a spot in the four corners in the middle of nowhere, they carry an enormous weight.

Being a new head coach of a high school team comes with it a great deal of responsibilities, not the least of which is knowing the team and the community around the team.

Sometimes, the community rallies around the coach. Other times, the coach finds himself the odd man out.

Nic Williams, hired just months earlier to take the reins as the head coach of the Aztec High football team, didn’t make it to the opening weekend of the prep football season. For reasons that still remain unexplained, the Tigers season was upended before it ever started, resulting in a winless campaign that hasn’t occurred in that town in nearly 40 years.

Mark Teel took over the head coaching duties of a Navajo Prep boys basketball team coming off a Class 3A state championship just a few months prior. And while the team ultimately fell short of repeating as state champions, there was a lot of pride from those players who left it all on the court as the season progressed.

One of my favorite games to cover during this recently completed high school sports year was a boys basketball game at Bronco Arena when freshman Kollin Brady capped off a Kirtland Central rally with a 3-point shot at the buzzer as the Broncos topped District 1-4A rival Aztec 56-53.

That win was the first of a four-game win streak within the district that seemed to give first-year head coach Isaiah Valdez a much-needed boost on a season that desperately needed one.

Bloomfield High School’s football team, led by an impressive performance from junior Peyton Duncan, earned their second Class 4A state title in three years. While the win was impressive enough, so was the massive turnout from fans of both teams on a chilly Thanksgiving weekend afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.

The game of the year in prep sports was one in which a local team came up a bit short, but it provided spectators, fans and writers alike a chance to see a truly fun event.

Junior running back Josh Manuelito scored five touchdowns and ran for 266 yards as the Piñon (Arizona) Eagles scored twice in the fourth quarter on the road to top Navajo Prep at home by a final of 36-32.

Despite having a 4-point lead with 9:32 to go in the final quarter, Navajo Prep allowed Piñon to run more than seven minutes off the clock before Manuelito scored to secure the victory.

Moments like those, when captured under a few towers of moderately bright lights, serve as reminders of why journalists do what we do.

Tell a story. Don’t become the storyteller.

At least that’s what one old-school journalist taught his son 40 years ago.

That’s all.

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High School Sports

Class B/C state track and field highlights and results

The Montana Class B and C state track meet showcased impressive performances from athletes across the state. Cathleen Doisher SWX Local Sports Reporter MISSOULA, Mont. – Athletes from across Montana gathered in Missoula for the 2025 Class B and C State Track Meet, delivering impressive performances over two days of competition. Avery Gerdes from Huntley […]

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Class B/C state track and field highlights and results

The Montana Class B and C state track meet showcased impressive performances from athletes across the state.



MISSOULA, Mont. – Athletes from across Montana gathered in Missoula for the 2025 Class B and C State Track Meet, delivering impressive performances over two days of competition.

Avery Gerdes from Huntley Project clinched the girls 800 meters title with a time of 2:13.77, outpacing Choteau’s Natalie Hodgkiss and Loyola’s Ireland Johnston. In the boys 800 meters, Auston Schellig of Joliet secured victory, finishing in 1:53.79.

Shelbi Labrie from Whitewater dominated the girls 1600 meter race, winning in 5:10.02. TJ Chirrick from Roberts and Addi Lilyquist from Granite followed with silver and bronze, respectively.

Shaphan Hubner of Manhattan Christian took the boys 1600 meters, crossing the line first in 4:35.19. Prestyn Klatt and Trent Lane completed the podium.

In field events, Addyson Deal from Thompson Falls won the Class B girls javelin with a throw of 125 feet, 10 inches. Brynn Kammerzell of C-J-I claimed the Class C high jump, and Broadwater’s Kaitlyn Noyes excelled in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 10.75 inches.

Dane Grammer from C-J-I triumphed in the boys shot put, while Lustre Christian’s Johnslee Pierre dominated the long jump.

Red Lodge senior Nolan Evenson highlighted the meet by breaking the all-time Class B pole vault record. “Oh it feels great. I mean the perfect capstone to end high school,” Evenson said.

On Saturday, Jefferson’s Luke Oxarart took gold in the Class B shot put, and Fort Benton’s girls 4×100 relay team set a new Class C record. Loyola’s girls relay team won the Class B title.

 Athletes from across Montana gathered in Missoula for the 2025 Class B and C State Track Meet, delivering impressive performances over two days of competition.



Valley Christian captured the Class C boys 4×100, while Columbus won Class B. In hurdles, Jolee Klempel and Allison Gama claimed titles in their respective classes.

Jefferson’s Landon Richards won the Class B high jump, and sprinters Cambry Conradsen and Kaimea Dalke achieved multiple wins in their events.

Henry Kukowski and Trizten Avila swept the boys 100 and 200 in their classes, with Avila also winning the 400. In the triple jump, Brynne Hill and Ethan Stack took top honors in their categories.

Loyola swept both Class B team titles, while Manhattan Christian’s boys and Richey-Lambert’s girls won in Class C. The meet concluded with remarkable performances and personal bests from Montana’s top small-school athletes.

Track and Field first place finishers:

CLASS B BOYS

– 100 M, Trizten Avilia, Superior, 11.24 

– 200 M, Trizten Avilia, Superior, 22.00

– 400 M, Trizten Avilia, Superior, 50.05

– 800 M, Auston Schellig, Joilet, 1:53.79

– 1600 M, Auston Schellig, Joilet, 4:24.35

– 3200 M, Kyler Harris, Florence-Carlton, 9:34:08

– 110M Hurdles, Jackson Kuiken, Loyola, 15.36

– 300M Hurdles, Caleb Stosich, Sweet Grass, 39.55

– 4×100 Relay, Columbus, 43.43

– 4×400 Relay, Fairview, 3:25.01

– Shot Put, Luke Oxarart, Jefferson, 48-07.50

– Discus, Ryan Sharbono, St. Ignatius, 165-05

– Javelin, Jesse Day, Lincoln County, 180-11

– High Jump, Landon Richards, Superior, 6-06

– Pole Vault, Nolan Evenson, Red Lodge, 15-00

– Long Jump, Carson Nissen, Chinook, 21-05.25

– Triple Jump, Ethan Stack, Loyola, 44-03.75

CLASS B GIRLS 

– 100 M, Kaimea Dalke, Shepherd, 12.40

– 200 M, Kaimea Dalke, Shepherd, 25.33 

– 400 M, Avery Gerdes, Huntley Project, 56.52

– 800 M, Avery Gerdes, Huntley Project, 2:13.78 

– 1600 M, Natalie Hodgskiss, Choteau, 5:08.68

– 3200 M, Kyla Meissner, Broadwater, 11:19.17 

– 100M Hurdles, Allison Gama, Loyola, 14.80

– 300M Hurdles, Sophia Berry, Loyola, 45.05

– 4×100 Relay, Loyola, 49.01

– 4×400 Relay, Loyola, 4:03.20 

– Shot Put, Denvyr Tuss, Malta, 37-08.25 

– Discus, Alexis Deming, Plains, 128-09 

– Javelin, Addyson Deal, Thompson Falls, 125-10

– High Jump, Allison Gama, Loyola, 4-04

– Pole Vault, Ava Krings, Conrad 10-03

– Long Jump, Kaitlyn Noyes, Broadwater, 17-10.75

– Triple Jump, Avery Gerdes, Huntley Project, 37-00 

CLASS C BOYS

– 100 M, Henry Kukowski, Plentywood, 11.29 

– 200 M, Henry Kukowski, Plentywood, 22.29

– 400 M, Brayden McCoy, Valley Christian, 49.87

– 800 M, Shaphan Hubner, Manhattan Christian, 1:56.63

– 1600 M, Shaphan Hubner, Manhattan Christian, 4:35.19

– 3200 M, Dawson Parke, Drummond, 10:11.40 

– 110M Hurdles, David Chapman, Hot Springs, 14.80 

– 300M Hurdles, Johnslee Pierre, Lustre Christian, 39.55 

– 4×100 Relay, Valley Christian, 43.98 

– 4×400 Relay, Manhattan Christian, 3:26.93

– Shot Put, Dane Grammar, CJI, 47-11

– Discus, Dane Grammar, CJI, 157-11

– Javelin, Layne Duncan, Custer-Hysham, 170-11

– High Jump, Ricky Williams, Noxon, 9-09.25

– Pole Vault, Tanner Vick, Power-Dutton, 14-00 

– Long Jump, Johnslee Pierre, Lustre Christian, 21-11

– Triple Jump, Johnslee Pierre, Lustre Christian, 44-05.75

CLASS C GIRLS

– 100 M, Cambry Conradsen, Savage, 12.64

– 200 M, Cambry Conradsen, Savage, 25.64

– 400 M, Cambry Conradsen, Savage, 59.17

– 800 M, TJ Chirrick, Roberts, 2:19.18

– 1600 M, Shelbi LaBrie, Whitewater, 5:10.02

– 3200 M, Shelbi LaBrie, Whitewater, 12:03.78

– 100M Hurdles, Jolee Klempel, Richey-Lambert, 15.50 

– 300M Hurdles, Ali Doyle, Turner, 45.26

– 4×100 Relay, Fort Benton, 49.82

– 4×400 Relay, Belt, 4:10.10 

– Shot Put, Kaytie Aanstad, Scobey, 42-00 

– Discus, Lillian Boyd, Seeley-Swan, 147-09

– Javelin, Kennedy Simonson, Whitewater, 124-02

– High Jump, Brynn Kammerzell, CJI, 5-04

– Pole Vault, Mylee Reuter, Savage, 10-06

– Long Jump, Montannah Piar, Granite, 17-09.50 

– Triple Jump, Brynne Hill, Richey Lambert, 35-11.75 

CLASS B STATE TITLE CHAMPIONS

– Boys, Loyoola, 58 

– Girls, Loyola, 95 

CLASS C STATE TITLE CHAMPIONS 

– Boys, Manhattan Christian, 75 

– Girls, Richey-Lambert, 52

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Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams Win River City Rivals Meet – May 24th

The Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams won the River City Rivals Meet held on Saturday May 24th at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Competing were teams from Bangor, Brewer, Edward Little and Lewiston. The Girl’s Team Results were 1 – Bangor – 192 Tied 2 – Brewer and Lewiston – […]

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Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams Win River City Rivals Meet – May 24th

The Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams won the River City Rivals Meet held on Saturday May 24th at Edward Little High School in Auburn.

Competing were teams from Bangor, Brewer, Edward Little and Lewiston.

The Girl’s Team Results were

  • 1 – Bangor – 192
  • Tied 2 – Brewer and Lewiston – 115
  • 4. – Edward Little – 88

To see all the individual Girl’s events CLICK HERE

The Boy’s Team Results were

  1. Lewiston – 203
  2. Bangor – 128
  3. Edward Little – 116
  4. Brewer – 98

To see all the individual Boy’s events CLICK HERE

Congratulations to the following athletes who won multiple events

  • Lauren Vanidestine – Brewer – 1st in 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash
  • Jenni Flynn – Lewiston – 1st in 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles
  • Josia Katroli – Lewiston – 1st in Long Jump and High Jump
  • Ryker Paradis – Lewiston -1st in Shop Put and Discus Throw.

Nominations for the Athlete of the Week are now open for performances May 19– May 24. Please email your nomination to chris.popper@townsquaremedia.com, letting us know why the individual should be the Athlete of the Week. Please include stats, and make sure you indicate what school this individual attends, and what sport they’re playing! All nominations should be received by Sunday, May 25th. Voting for Week 6 will take place May 26th -29th with the winner being announced on Friday, May 30th.

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13 Things That Make Spring the Best Season in Maine

Every season is beautiful in Vacationland, but there’s something special about a Maine Spring.

Gallery Credit: Cindy Campbell

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A.C. Flora girls soccer team makes history, secures first state championship in program history

The Falcons defeat Bishop England 1-0 to win the 4A state title. Keeper Kennedy Bagley & the A.C. Flora defenders pitch a shutout against a potent offense. COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kennedy Bagley pitched a shutout in goal for A.C. Flora as the Falcons won the 4A state championship with a 1-0 win over Bishop England […]

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A.C. Flora girls soccer team makes history, secures first state championship in program history

The Falcons defeat Bishop England 1-0 to win the 4A state title. Keeper Kennedy Bagley & the A.C. Flora defenders pitch a shutout against a potent offense.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kennedy Bagley pitched a shutout in goal for A.C. Flora as the Falcons won the 4A state championship with a 1-0 win over Bishop England Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

With Bagley not allowing any shots from the Bishops to register, the Falcons needed just one goal to secure the win. That lone goal came in the second half in the 58th minute and it came off a corner kick. With Emma Valdes delivering the ball right in front of the net, Samantha Lawter was there for the header and a 1-0 lead for A.C. Flora.

That one goal was indeed all the Falcons needed to secure the Class AAAA state title, the first state championship in the history of the girls soccer program at 1 Falcon Drive. This appearance was the second in the state final for the A.C. Flora girls whose last played for a title in 2001.

In the girls 5A Division II state championship, Chapin fell to Eastside in overtime 3-2.

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