Jockey’s Feat Was a New Kind of Daily Double

Jose Calo might be the answer to a future trivia question: Who is the only jockey to ride horses in two dead heats in the same day?

It happened Nov. 12 at Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio, where Calo rode Princwee to a share of first place with Turn N Roll Again. The same thing happened two races later, as Royal Secret, with Calo aboard, reached the wire at the same time as American Attitude.

Thoroughbred Racing Communications said it wasn’t aware of any jockey being involved previously in two dead heats in the same day.

*

Trivia time: What is UCLA’s record in bowl games?

*

Still a Celtic: When the Pacers played the Heat recently, new Indiana Coach Larry Bird was asked if he would converse with Miami’s Pat Riley.

“Can’t. Never will,” Bird said. “He’s a Laker. Don’t have time for him. That’s the way I remember it. He may be with Miami now. But he’s one of them Laker guys.”

*

Practice, practice: Under new Coach Rick Pitino, every Celtic shooting worse than 80% from the free-throw line must shoot 200 free throws every day during practice.

Pitino told the Boston Globe, “It seems to me that asking a player to make eight out of 10 isn’t asking too much.”

It’s doubtful that Pitino would enforce the same regimen if he were coaching Shaquille O’Neal.

*

Mr. Excitement: John Riggins, former standout NFL running back, on Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions:

“He’s the most exciting back ever to play the game. He’s the most exciting man ever to touch a football, in my opinion.”

*

His game face: Jeff Faraudo in the Oakland Tribune on Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf:

“[Leaf] insists he’s a good guy away from the game, but told the Spokesman Review of Spokane, Wash., ‘When I’m on the field, I’m a cocky, strong kind of a jerk.’ ”

*

Add Cougars: Saturday’s Washington-Washington State game in Seattle was played in a persistent rainstorm.

Said Washington State receiver Shawn McWashington: “The rain must have been the tears of Babe Hollingbery and Mel Hein,” referring to the coach and best player on the Cougars’ 1931 Rose Bowl team.

*

Serious guy: From Edmonton Oiler center Doug Weight: “I don’t care who you are or how much money you make, if you lose, life seems like a train wreck.”

*

Trivia time: The Bruins are 10-9-1, including 11 appearances in the Rose Bowl.

*

And finally: Terry Egan of the Dallas Morning News gives a thumbs down to the “horrible names” selected by Columbus and Nashville, future NHL expansion franchises.

“Columbus, which enters the league in 2000, will be the Blue Jackets. Nashville, which enters the league in in 1998, will be the Predators--and the team will wear the logo of a saber-toothed tiger.

“A bug and an extinct animal. Yech.”