Racing hall swells by 8

Silver Charm, jockey Jose Santos and trainer John Veitch headline the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame Class of 2007 announced yesterday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Also elected were Mom's Command and Swoon's Son, jockey John Sellers and trainers Henry Forrest and Frank McCabe. The class of eight is the largest since nine were inducted in 1978.

Both Santos, as a jockey on Funny Cide in 2003, and Silver Charm, in 1997, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but were denied the Triple Crown when they came up short in the Belmont Stakes.

Veitch is best known for his role in the Affirmed-Alydar rivalry in 1978. Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner, edged out Veitch's Alydar in each of the three races by a combined margin of less than two lengths.

More horse racing

Tivoli Hanover drew post position No. 3 and was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the $1 million final of the Art Rooney Pace Saturday at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, N.Y.. Eight 3-year-olds -- five colts and three geldings -- earned berths for the race, the richest in Yonkers' history.

Dave Palone, out since April 10 rehabilitating injuries from a racing accident, returned to the track last night at The Meadows and took a trip to the winner's circle in only his second race. He drove the trotter My Word to victory.

College basketball

Kansas junior guard Brandon Rush, who withdrew last week from the NBA draft, had his right knee severely injured in a pickup game last week and faces surgery to repair torn ligaments. He is expected to be out up to six months.

Washington State women's coach June Daugherty was released from a hospital in Everett, Wash., a week after nearly dying of a sudden cardiac arrest..

Track and field

World record holder Asafa Powell won the 100 meters at the Artur Takac Memorial meet in Belgrade, Serbia, in 9.97 seconds -- the fastest sprint in the world this year. Powell ran for the first time since dealing with tendinitis in his knee.

Pro basketball

Tamika Catchings scored 21 points as the visiting Indiana Fever (3-0) pulled away from Minnesota in the second half for an 89-75 WNBA victory. Seimone Augustus led the Lynx (0-5) with 23 points. ... Becky Hammon scored 26 points to lead the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars (3-1) to an 82-71 win against the Houston Comets (0-3). The loss marks the first time the Comets have started 0-3.

Wild Things

The Washington Wild Things continued their hot start to the Frontier League season with a 7-3 win against the Chillicothe Paints in Chillicothe, Ohio -- their sixth win in the first seven games. Mario Garza tied the score, 2-2, in the seventh inning with a solo home run and Kyle Padgett put the Wild Things ahead to stay with a run-scoring triple later in the inning.

Cycling

Stefano Garzelli won the 117-mile 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia in a solo breakaway that finished in Lienz, Austria. Garzelli won the stage in 5 hours, 34 minutes, 7 seconds -- 61 seconds ahead of second-place Laurent Mangel. Danilo Di Luca held on to the overall lead.

Erik Zabel will remain with the Milram team despite admitting to doping during the 1996 Tour de France when he rode for Team Telekom. Zabel will be allowed to ride until the end of the year, when his status will be reviewed.

Colleges

NCAA officials announced yesterday the formation of a group that includes coaches, athletic directors, college presidents and others to investigate issues that may be hindering academic achievement among men's players. Dan Guerrero, UCLA's athletic director, will be chairman of the group, which is expected to submit recommendations by the end of 2008.

College baseball

Kean University (43-8) gave the New Jersey Athletic Conference its record ninth NCAA Division III title by pushing across a run in the 10th inning to defeat Emory University of Georgia, 5-4, in the final in Grand Chute, Wis.