Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Miscellany

Compiled From Wire Services

It appears there will be a full field of challengers for Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone in the May 18 Preakness in Baltimore. Trainers of 16 horses have indicated an interest in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The field will be limited to no more than 14 horses, however, because the narrower Pimlico track cannot accommodate an auxiliary starting gate, as was used at Churchill Downs when 20 started in last Saturday’s Derby.

Tony Stewart led a Team Menard sweep of the top three speeds in the first full day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. The 24-year-old rookie wasted no time when he took to the track with just over 40 minutes left in the day’s practice, beating his veteran teammates Eddie Cheever and Scott Brayton with a lap of 236.121 mph on just his fourth circuit of the 2-1/2-mile oval.

Federico Colonna of Italy gave the world’s top-ranked team in its first win, but Lance Armstrong retained his leader’s jersey after the seventh stage of the Tour DuPont in Bristol, Va. Colonna, 23, who rides for Mapei-GB, overtook Steve Bauer of Canada in the final 250 yards and claimed the 110.1-mile Wytheville to Bristol road race in 4 hours, 30 minutes, 34 seconds.

Mario Lemieux, who led the NHL in scoring in his first season back after a year-long layoff, won the Sporting News player of the year award. Detroit coach Scotty Bowman won coach of the year honors. Chicago winger Eric Daze captured rookie of the year.

The Big West men’s and women’s basketball tournament will be held in Reno at least through 1999, the conference announced.