South African national football team assistant coach THOMAS MADIGAGE, age 40, died in a car crash "after an accident involving a stray donkey" (THE SUN, 10/21). ... Former F1 world champion MARIO ANDRETTI "will formally cut the ribbon of the newly build Circuit of the Americas racetrack in Austin, Texas by driving the first lap at the new track in a current F1 car." Andretti's last F1 season was in '82 (SPEED-MAGAZIN.de, 10/19). ... European Ryder Cup captain JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL will play in next month's UBS Hong Kong Open, "where he will join" defending champion RORY MCILROY and PAUL LAWRIE, both members of his European team (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 10/20). ... Australia's Nine Network said that "cricket fans around the world will be cheering on veteran cricket commentator TONY GREIG as he battles lung cancer." Greig "will undergo surgery this week" (AAP, 10/21).
IN THE PADDOCK: Despite dire conditions at Ascot and some serious opposition, horse "FRANKEL made it 14 wins in 14 starts in what was later confirmed as his final race." Frankel's Owner KHALID ABDULLAH "announced afterward that Frankel will now be retired to stud." Frankel's Trainer HENRY CECIL "though gaunt and frail through treatment for cancer, wore a look of utter relief that the journey had been completed victoriously" (LONDON TIMES, 10/20). ... FRANKIE DETTORI “has lost the seven-figure contract” with stable Godolphin that made him the highest-paid jockey in the world. The separation, following an 18-year association, “came as little surprise” after the Italian decided to accept the mount on Camelot for the rival Ballydoyle/Coolmore conglomerate in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month (London TELEGRAPH, 10/21). ... NICKY BUTT will coach ManU’s reserves “while he contemplates becoming a manager.” He is assisting WARREN JOYCE in competing in the Barclays U21 Premier League, Lancashire Senior Cup and Manchester Senior Cup (London DAILY MAIL, 10/21).
POST LONDON 2012: The golden throne on which U.K. cyclist BRADLEY WIGGINS posed after winning a Gold Medal at the London Games "is set to be auctioned." Auctioneers Graham Budd Ltd. "believe the chair will reach" at least £10,000 ($16,000) when it goes under the hammer on Nov. 6 (London TELEGRAPH, 10/18). ... Heptathlete JESSICA ENNIS and wheelchair racer DAVID WEIR "rounded off a golden year of success by being voted British Olympic and Paralympic Athlete of the Year." Athletics fans voted for Ennis and Weir as their stars of '12. Ennis secured 48% of the vote, beating double Olympic champion MO FARAH by just 4%, while Weir also collected 48% of the vote, narrowly pipping double Gold Medalist HANNAH COCKROFT to the post (SPORTINGLIFE.com, 10/18). ... Triathlon Olympic Bronze Medalist JONNY BROWNLEE "followed in the footsteps of his brother ALISTAIR by being crowned world champion in New Zealand." The 22-year-old from Leeds, England "headed into the World Triathlon Series Grand Final with a 180-point lead over Spain's JAVIER GOMEZ and needing just a podium finish to secure the overall title" (RTE.ie, 10/21).
