Sports

Extra innings

Nation/World

NBA

Wade set to return

Dwyane Wade’s dislocated shoulder is healing nicely, and nearly six weeks after the injury threatened to end his season, the reigning NBA finals MVP is ready to return to practice with the Miami Heat.

Wade said he’ll be back on the practice court with the Heat today and aims to play “a game or two” before the end of the regular season.

Wade was averaging 28.8 points when he was hurt in a collision with Houston’s Shane Battier on Feb. 21. The Heat have gone 13-7 since Wade’s injury, rising from a team on the Eastern Conference playoff bubble to one contending for the Southeast Division title.

Horse Racing

Steinbrenners out

The family of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner withdrew from the group that was bidding to run New York thoroughbred racing.

“The Steinbrenner family and all of their related entities will withdraw from the Excelsior bid,” family spokesman Howard Rubenstein said Sunday. “The reason is to pursue other opportunities.”

Since 1955, the New York Racing Association has held the right to operate Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks. NYRA’s franchise expires Dec. 31, and the next franchise holder could run racing for up to 20 years.

Saddle to be auctioned

The saddle worn by 2006 Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro will be sold at a charity auction in May to raise money for permanently disabled jockeys.

The saddle will be auctioned off at the Mint Jubilee Gala on May 4, the night before this year’s Derby.

Barbaro was euthanized in January following complications from injuries suffered in last year’s Preakness.

Clinic to be awarded

The veterinary clinic that treated Barbaro will receive an award this month for its efforts to save the life of the 2006 Derby winner.

The New Bolton Center will receive the Silver Horseshoe Award, an honor bestowed by the Kentucky Derby Festival to a group or individual for significant contributions or service to the thoroughbred racing industry.

The award will be accepted by Dr. Dean Richardson, the chief of large-animal surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital.

A $1,000 gift usually accompanies the honor, but this year a special $10,000 award will be presented to the center.

Barbaro spent eight months battling for his life after breaking his right hind leg before being euthanized in January.

Baseball

Wang, Karstens on DL

The New York Yankees put pitchers Chien-Ming Wang and Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, setting their roster for opening day.

The Yankees also released left-hander Ron Villone and catcher Ben Davis, and optioned right-hander Colter Bean and right-hander Chris Britton to Triple-A Scranton.

Wang, right-hander Jose Veras and right-hander Humberto Sanchez were placed on the DL retroactive to March 23. Karstens was backdated to March 26.

Wang, a 19-game winner last season and runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award, has an injured right hamstring. He threw 40 pitches Sunday off a half-mound at the team’s spring training complex in Tampa, Fla.

Karstens (stiff elbow) said he will have a bullpen session today.