Alternatives to Hollywood Park considered

Los Alamitos Race Course and Fairplex Park in Pomona have been approached by the California Horse Racing Board and the Thoroughbred Owners of California to explore expansion of its facilities if Betfair Hollywood Park ends its racing and training facility for thoroughbreds.

Both have held discussions with the racing board and TOC, according to a CHRB media advisory sent out Tuesday night.

The Daily Racing Form reported that Los Alamitos is considering a $10-million expansion that would include lengthening its track, refurbishing a portion of its grandstand and adding 700 additional stalls. But nothing would go forward if Hollywood Park seeks racing dates beyond the summer of 2013.

— Eric Sondheimer

Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady says he is headed for China to play for the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Assn.

The 33-year-old McGrady will be the highest-profile player in the CBA. Because he played with Chinese basketball star Yao Ming during their days with the Houston Rockets, he is well known in China and his contract has been the top news in China’s major sports news sites.

The anticipated showdown between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods at the World Golf Finals at Belek, Turkey, on Wednesday was pushed back a day because of thunderstorms at the Sultan course.

Torrential rain began lashing Antalya Golf Club shortly after the morning matches in the eight-player event were completed, forcing organizers to postpone the four afternoon matches to Thursday, with the semifinals to follow.

The other abandoned matches were: Justin Rose versus Webb Simpson, Lee Westwood-Hunter Mahan and Charl Schwartzel-Matt Kuchar.

On Wednesday, Schwartzel birdied three of his last four holes to shot a one-under 70 to McIlroy’s 71.

Woods recorded his first victory at the exhibition tournament with a 67 to defeat Kuchar by five strokes. Woods fell to Schwartzel by one shot on Tuesday.

The top-ranked McIlroy has only an outside chance of advancing in the $5.2 million event after losing by six shots to Kuchar on Tuesday and by one stroke to Schwartzel in the medal match-play format.

“In my match now against Tiger, I will be out to get back a bit of pride and at least leave here winning one match,” McIlroy said. “I now don’t have much to play for, so I would like to beat him so he doesn’t go through to the semifinals and also to get some bragging rights.

In other morning matches, Rose defeated Westwood with a round of 66 to his European Ryder Cup teammate’s 69. Simpson, the U.S. Open champion, had a 65 to Mahan’s 67 for his first victory, leaving his fellow American winless.

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Roger Federer ignored recent death threats from a Chinese blogger and won his opening match at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, beating qualifier Lu Yen-Hsun, 6-3, 7-5, in the second round.

Federer said he was aware that the blogger had recently issued an apology.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion has had heavy security surrounding him at all times since arriving in Shanghai.

“I felt fine” Federer said. “There was maybe one quick thought. I saw one of the bodyguards outside of the court. I thought, still around, obviously. I have bodyguards every time I play a match on a center court, which is normal.

Novak Djokovic also advanced, beating Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 6-3, 6-2. Two-time defending champion Andy Murray received a walkover into the third round after the withdrawal of Florian Mayer because of a rib injury.

Sam Querrey of the United States rallied past 14th-seeded Kei Nishikori, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in another second-round match.

Fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Benoit Paire, 7-6 (7), 7-5, in an all-French match.

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Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka started off her last tournament before the season-ending WTA Championships by beating Arantxa Rus, 6-0, 6-2, Wednesday in the first round of the Generali Ladies at Linz, Austria.

Two-time former winner Ana Ivanovic also advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Monica Niculescu.

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Top-seeded Samantha Stosur advanced to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open in Osaka by beating Virginie Razzano of France, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.