Jockey Bejarano injured in Santa Anita spill

Jockey Rafael Bejarano, Santa Anita’s leading rider, was injured in a spill about 200 yards from the finish line in the eighth and final race Thursday.

Bejarano was thrown head-first when his mount, a 3-year-old gelding named Parisian Art, suffered an apparent heart attack and died.

Santa Anita President Ron Charles, one of the first people on the scene, said of Bejarano, “He was conscious, talking and moving his arms and legs.” But Charles added that he was in obvious pain.

Bejarano was taken by ambulance to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, and hospital spokeswoman Ann Azer said he was in fair condition.

Bejarano had ridden 10 winners in the last three racing days to increase his total to 60.

-- Larry Stewart

SKATING

Blade problems led to Lysacek’s injury

A quarter-inch-wide blade is having much larger ramifications for U.S. figure skating champion Evan Lysacek and his compatriots.

Problems with the blade, which broke last week, directly led to an injury that forced Lysacek’s withdrawal from the World Figure Skating Championships, which begin Tuesday in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Without Lysacek, a two-time world bronze medalist, the U.S. men are in danger of getting only two places at the 2009 world championships in Los Angeles.

Lysacek will be replaced by Jeremy Abbott, 22, fourth finisher at the 2008 nationals, who never has competed in either a senior or junior worlds.

-- Philip Hersh

PRO FOOTBALL

Quarterback Dilfer is cut by the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers terminated quarterback Trent Dilfer’s contract, possibly signaling the end of the 14-year veteran’s career.

Dilfer started six games for the 49ers last season, passing for 1,166 yards with seven touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 55.1 passer rating before incurring a season-ending concussion.

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The new All American Football League has scrapped plans for its 2008 inaugural season and will continue to search for financial backing for 2009.

Kennan Davis, the AAFL’s vice president of league operations, said sponsors have commitments to remain with the league in 2009.

The league announced refunds will be given for tickets purchased for 2008 games.

The league planned to open training camps for its six teams this week. Games were scheduled to begin April 12.

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The Detroit Lions cut running back Kevin Jones and defensive end Kalimba Edwards. Jones has 750 career carries for 3,067 yards and 24 touchdowns. Edwards has 26 sacks in six seasons.

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The Houston Texans signed free agent running back Chris Brown, who appeared in 12 games last season for the Tennessee Titans and finished with 462 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

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Defensive back Gary Baxter, determined to become the first NFL player to make it back from two torn patellar tendons, signed a one-year free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.

MISCELLANY

No charges to be filed against USC’s Moala

The Orange County District Attorney’s office, citing insufficient evidence, declined to file charges against USC defensive tackle Fili Moala in connection with an incident that led to his arrest earlier this month.

Moala was arrested on March 2 in Newport Beach on suspicion of obstructing and delaying an officer after police responded to a fight at a bar.

-- Gary Klein

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The cycling team led by former Tour de France champion Bjarne Riis, who acknowledged doping, will lose its title sponsor after this year.

El Segundo’s Computer Sciences Corp., the biggest contributor to the CSC team’s $20.3 million budget according to Riis, announced it won’t extend an association with the team that began in 2001.

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Chivas USA, D.C. United, Houston and New England will be joined by Mexican clubs Atlante, Chivas Guadalajara, Pachuca, Santos Laguna and Pachuca in the second SuperLiga tournament.

The tournament is scheduled to be played from July 12 to Aug. 5.

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Unbeaten middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (33-0, 29 knockouts) will meet Welsh contender Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs) in his next fight, promoter Bob Arum said. Pavlik and Lockett are likely to fight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on June 7 in Pavlik’s first defense of his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization 160-pound titles since beating Jermain Taylor in Las Vegas last month.

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Light welterweight Javier Molina of Commerce boxed his way to a first-round victory over Brazil’s Myke Carvalho at the Americas Olympic Qualifier in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Molina held Carvalho to only one point in the eight minutes, winning a 4-1 decision.

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Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen turned in the fastest lap in the first practice for Formula One’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Raikkonen set the pace at 1 minute 26.461 seconds, almost a half-second clear of 2007 runner-up Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.