Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not compete in the upcoming Preakness Stakes, officially ending any hopes of a Triple Crown this year.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed the decision on Wednesday, prioritising the long-term health and happiness of the champion colt.
The withdrawal means the sport must continue its wait for a first Triple Crown winner since Justify achieved the historic feat in 2018.
Belmont Stakes the new target
Instead of travelling to Baltimore for the second jewel of the racing crown, the DeVaux-trained runner will be given additional time to recover from his recent exertions.
A return to action is already being planned, with the prestigious Belmont Stakes next month highlighted as the next primary objective.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”
Cherie DeVaux
The carefully managed schedule ensures the standout thoroughbred will be preserved for top-level competition later in the season.
Rory McIlroy says he is “more motivated than ever” as he returns to competitive action at the Truist Championship this week following his successful Masters title defence.
The world number two secured his second successive Green Jacket by holding off Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National last month.
Last year, the Northern Irishman became only the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam with a dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose.
Validating recent success
He admits the aftermath of this latest Augusta triumph feels distinctly different to that milestone victory.
“I felt like winning the Grand Slam was going to be this life-changing thing and in some ways it was, but in other ways I had to remember like, no, I still have a lot of my career left and I want to keep playing and keep competing.”
The 37-year-old views this ongoing season as validation for the intense work he has put in to return to the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
Avoiding a post-Masters hangover
Following his landmark grand-slam victory last year, the six-time major winner suffered a noticeable slump in form.
He failed to contend at both the USPGA Championship and US Open before finally rebounding with a top-10 finish at the Open Championship in front of a home crowd at Royal Portrush.
However, recent celebrations have been far less frantic, leaving the European Ryder Cup star deeply focused on the upcoming major calendar.
“I’m excited for this week, I’m excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock, Birkdale.”
“You know, like I feel like if anything I’m more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I’ve ever been.”
A familiar hunting ground
The defending champion begins his bid for a fifth career win at Quail Hollow at 15:05 BST on Thursday.
He possesses a phenomenal record at the North Carolina venue, claiming his maiden PGA Tour title there in 2010 before adding victories in 2015, 2021 and 2024.
Despite his vast success at the course, he remains deeply appreciative of the local backing he continuously receives from the spectators.
“I feel like I’ve gotten more out of this golf tournament than I’ve given back to it in a way, because we do get incredible support every time we come here.”
Former Atlanta Braves and Hawks owner Ted Turner, the billionaire media mogul who founded CNN, has died at his Florida home aged 87.
The American philanthropist passed away near Tallahassee on Wednesday, having publicly revealed a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia in 2018.
He leaves behind a sweeping legacy across international sport, global broadcasting and widespread charitable initiatives.
Building a sporting empire
Turner purchased the Braves in January 1976 to prevent the struggling Major League Baseball franchise from relocating out of Georgia.
The charismatic owner famously managed the baseball club for a single day in May 1977, and eventually oversaw their 1995 World Series triumph.
His sporting portfolio expanded further when he secured a majority stake in the Hawks basketball team in 1977, keeping them firmly anchored in the Atlanta area.
Under his stewardship, the National Basketball Association franchise reached the play-offs 15 times before retiring a jersey in his honour in 2004.
Global competitions and media domination
Beyond terrestrial sports, the accomplished yachtsman successfully defended the America’s Cup in 1977 as skipper of the vessel Courageous.
He also established the Goodwill Games in 1986, an international athletics competition designed to ease Cold War tensions that ran for 14 years.
These sporting ventures were funded by his pioneering television network, which revolutionised global news coverage with the launch of the 24-hour channel CNN in 1980.
Philanthropy and tributes
Time Warner assumed control of his sports teams in 1996, allowing the billionaire to pivot heavily towards philanthropic endeavours.
He famously pledged $1bn to the United Nations in 1997 and committed to dedicating the majority of his wealth to charitable causes via The Giving Pledge.
CNN Worldwide chairman Mark Thompson led the tributes to the broadcasting pioneer, praising his fearless vision.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement. He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand.”
Mark Thompson, CNN Worldwide chairman
He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van will defend his title against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 in Newark this Saturday, following an emotional journey to the pinnacle of mixed martial arts.
The 24-year-old enters the weekend’s bout with a formidable 16-2 record, having rapidly cemented his status at the top of the 125-pound division.
His extraordinary rise culminated in a championship victory last December, making him the second-youngest titleholder in UFC history behind Jon Jones.
Overcoming a troubled youth
Just two days after securing the world championship, the Myanmar-born fighter visited his father’s grave in Houston for the first time since late 2022.
“I will go to the cemetery with my mom, but I usually stay in the car,” Van explained.
“I only go in when I accomplish something big. I was nothing but a disappointment when he was alive, you know what I mean?”
The champion’s early life was marred by civil conflict in his homeland, leading to a prolonged period spent waiting in a Malaysian refugee camp.
Upon migrating to Texas at the age of 12, he struggled to adapt to a new culture and frequently engaged in street fights due to severe language barriers.
Channelling anger into the octagon
Escalating street violence eventually forced the teenager to relocate to Iowa for his own safety.
It was there that an aunt challenged her nephew to abandon street brawling and instead represent the pride of his family in competitive combat sports.
This pivotal intervention led the future champion back to Houston, where he dedicated himself entirely to mixed martial arts training.
Tragically, his father passed away when he was 16, missing both his amateur debut in 2020 and his subsequent rapid ascent to the world’s premier fighting promotion.
Representing Myanmar on the global stage
Now holding an impressive 9-1 record within the organisation, the lightning-fast striker is completely focused on his upcoming clash.
Formidable Japanese challenger Taira, boasting an 18-1 career record, stands in the way of a successful title defence in New Jersey.
Carrying the memory of his father and the hopes of his homeland, the flyweight king is determined to prove his championship pedigree on Saturday night.
The UK government has entered preliminary discussions to support potential bids for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2040s.
Ministers confirmed that initial work is under way to examine whether the nation could stage the global sporting spectacle for the first time since London 2012.
“Initial work examining whether the UK could host the Games… will assess key factors such as potential cost, socio-economic benefit and the chance of success,” the government stated.
Alongside the multi-sport event, lawmakers are also considering whether to back proposals to stage golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup during the 2030s.
Momentum builds for regional hosts
Recent months have seen growing momentum behind a possible attempt to bring the summer showpiece back to British soil for a fourth time.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his desire last year for the capital city to launch a campaign for the 2040 edition.
However, the chair of funding agency UK Sport recently suggested that northern cities such as Liverpool and Manchester could serve as more suitable co-hosts.
A coalition of political leaders urged Westminster in February to ensure any future proposals are anchored in the north of England to maximise regional investment.
Future Olympic landscape and golf aspirations
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already awarded the 2028 and 2032 Games to Los Angeles and Brisbane respectively, but the 2036 slot remains officially undecided.
Meanwhile, the push for top-tier golf tournaments continues with Bolton launching a campaign to host the biennial Ryder Cup in 2035.
If the Lancashire town is successful, it would mark the first time in over three decades that the trans-Atlantic men’s matchplay competition is held in England.
England Golf has similarly urged ministers to underwrite an attempt to bring the Solheim Cup, featuring the premier female golfers from Europe and the United States, to the country.
Cracking down on ticket touts
To strengthen these prospective campaigns, a new sporting events framework will seek to make the unauthorised resale of tickets a criminal offence.
Officials claim this legislative update will make it significantly easier to secure and deliver major spectacles like the upcoming Euro 2028 tournament.
The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are currently preparing to co-host the European Championship, while the UK is also the sole remaining bidder for the 2035 Women’s World Cup.
Jon Rahm has reached a settlement with the DP World Tour to retain his membership and ensure his eligibility for next year’s Ryder Cup following negotiations over unpaid fines.
The two-time major champion previously rejected a settlement offer that was accepted by several of his LIV Golf colleagues.
That initial proposal required the payment of financial penalties and a strict commitment to play a minimum of six events on the European circuit.
Fines settled for conditional release
The exact number of tournaments the 31-year-old must now enter remains unconfirmed by tour organisers.
However, the Spanish player will settle his outstanding disciplinary fines, which he previously estimated to be in the region of £2.6m.
This landmark agreement grants the former Masters winner a conditional release to continue competing in conflicting events for the foreseeable future.
This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the Majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season.
Uncertainty surrounds breakaway league
The compromise arrives at a critical juncture for the Saudi-backed golf league following major financial developments.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund recently announced that it will cease funding the breakaway competition at the conclusion of the 2026 campaign.
The organisation is actively searching for alternative investment as it prepares to resume its schedule at Trump National Golf Club this weekend.
Crucial boost for European team
Securing the former world number one’s availability represents a significant victory for European captain Luke Donald.
The formidable ball-striker has been an integral part of the continental squads that triumphed in the last two editions of the biennial contest.
He is now poised to feature prominently when the prestigious team event heads to Adare Manor next year.
The lucrative recruit, who moved leagues for a reported £258m in late 2023, will next compete at the PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO heavyweight world title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester this Saturday, completing a remarkable journey from white-collar boxing to the sport’s pinnacle.
The Ipswich-born fighter initially laced up his boots for Ipswich Town’s academy before eventually swapping the football pitch for the boxing ring.
His unconventional route into professional pugilism began away from the traditional amateur circuit in the unlicenced white-collar scene.
Since those humble beginnings, the powerful heavyweight has enjoyed a meteoric ascent to global prominence.
Unorthodox route to world honours
Transitioning from a promising youth footballer to a world-class combat athlete remains an incredibly rare feat in modern sports.
The former academy prospect bypassed the standard amateur developmental system entirely, learning his brutal trade under the unforgiving lights of regional leisure centres.
He now proudly stands as the WBO champion and prepares to face the toughest test of his professional career this weekend.
Manchester showdown awaits
Dubois represents a formidable and heavy-handed challenger for the newly crowned titleholder.
This highly anticipated domestic clash in Manchester has firmly captured the imagination of the British boxing public.
Fans will be eager to see if the unconventional champion can successfully navigate his maiden world title defence.
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou has backed Tyson Fury to defeat Anthony Joshua when the British heavyweights finally meet in their highly anticipated showdown this November.
A rivalry a decade in the making
After ten years of trading verbal jabs, the two domestic superstars recently agreed to a historic multi-fight deal brokered by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalsheikh.
The highly-anticipated clash is expected to take place at Wembley Stadium later this year and will be broadcast live on Netflix.
Before stepping into the ring with his great rival, Joshua must first navigate a July bout against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh.
Fury, meanwhile, ended a year-long retirement last month by securing a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A unique heavyweight perspective
Very few men have shared the ring with both modern heavyweight icons, giving Ngannou a rare perspective on the impending bout.
The Cameroonian fighter made his professional boxing debut against the ‘Gypsy King’ in 2023, sensationally dropping the Brit before losing a tight split decision.
His second foray into the squared circle ended dramatically differently when the former two-time Olympian brutally knocked him out in the second round.
Despite suffering a far more devastating loss to the Watford-born puncher, the 39-year-old ultimately believes his former conqueror from Manchester will emerge victorious.
Backing the Gypsy King on points
“We’ve been waiting for that fight for almost 10 years now, so finally it has happened,”
Ngannou told Sky Sports.
“At this level, I think it’s very close. Anybody can win. It depends on how the fight goes.”
The mixed martial arts star believes the outcome hinges heavily on the duration of the contest.
“I think if it’s going to go to a decision, I will pick Fury. If it’s a knockout, I think Joshua has a chance early. But I think the fight is well in Fury’s favour.”